11 Tips to Drink More Water Every Day

I don’t know about you, but I have a hard time drinking just plain water. Do I force myself to drink? You bet I do! I try to drink plenty of water because water is essential for our bodies. Our body is made out of about 70 percent water and it is vital for optimal health.

Despite how important it is to stay hydrated, there are many things that keep us from drinking enough water throughout the day like busy schedules, or overeating food that makes us feel like we do not want to drink anymore. Other factors include drinking other liquids like coffee or caffeinated drinks, which makes us feel like we drank enough liquid because we added water. What many of us don’t realize is that these caffeinated drinks dehydrate our bodies. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day jump-starts the flushing process which is so important to our body, especially first thing in the morning.

Water plays many important roles in our body including,

aiding in digestion
absorption
maintenance of body temperature
creation of saliva
caring nutrients and oxygen to our cells
lubricating our joints
preventing constipation
helps reduce migraines
helping to increase overall energy
flushing bacteria from our body, bladder and kidneys
maintaining electrolyte (sodium) balance

How much water should we be drinking?

Some experts recommend 2 litters per day. This number will change based on your body weight, activity level and of course, on the climate you live in. Aim for at least half your body weight in ounces of water a day.

Here are 11 simple tips to drink more water every day.

Fill up a couple of bottles the night before.
Keep one bottle by your bed and one in your kitchen. This will help you drink it right away upon waking up. Hydrating first thing in the morning helps to flush toxins out of your body and boost your immune system.
Set reminder alarms on your phone to remind you to drink water every hour or two.
Put a sticky note on your mirror in the washroom. A positive reminder to drink water first thing in the morning will definitely help.
Drink one glass of water 30 min before meal. Drinking a glass of water before a meal has been shown to decrease appetite, aid in digestion and boost metabolism.
Set a daily goal of how much you will drink by lunchtime or dinner.
Replace other drinks with water especially drinks with added sugar.
Eat more foods that are high in water. Fruits and vegetables are particularly high in water.
Keep a gallon jug nearby. If you have a family set it on the table with glasses so everyone can help themselves anytime and add some cut up fruits to it so it looks more inviting for the kids.
For every cup of coffee, drink one glass of water (if coffee is a must).
Flavour your water. You can squeeze lemon, lime, orange, tangerine. You can grate some ginger or add cucumber slices, strawberries or frozen wild blueberries. Wild blueberries change the water to purple and kids especially love that.

You can infuse your water overnight with herbs like hibiscus, mint or any herbs of your choice. Simply put 1 tsp of your favourite herbal loose tea in 1 littler of cold water and let it steep overnight. The next day strain it and enjoy it throughout the day. This will also add extra nutrients and minerals to your water.

I hope that these tips will help you hydrate your body more and that you will start loving the water you drink, just like I do.