10 Easy Ways to Drink More Water + Printable Water Tracker

Do you drink enough water each day?  If you’re like most people, the answer is probably no.  Maybe drinking more water is a personal goal for you. 

Here are 10 easy ways you can drink more water and stay well hydrated starting today! Plus grab a printable monthly water tracker to keep up with your daily water intake.

How Water Became My Favorite Drink

Several years ago when I was pregnant with our first son, I became more aware of staying well hydrated.  In my attempt to have as healthy a pregnancy as I could – and also being a first time mom, I decided to cut out soft drinks. 

Frankly, I did not want to keep track of how much caffeine I was consuming, so I cut it out altogether. 

That left me drinking water.  Lots and lots of water.  And since then, it is a good habit that has stuck with me.

So today, I thought it would be fun to share some easy, practical tips to help you get enough water each day.

(Keep reading to grab your free monthly water tracker to hang on the fridge as a reminder!)

Benefits of Drinking Enough Water

Before we get started, let’s take a look at some of the top benefits of drinking more water.

According to WebMD, some of the benefits of drinking enough water include: 

• Helps maintain the proper balance of bodily fluids (more than half of our bodies – 60% are made up of water!)
• Helps control calories (can I get an “amen” or at least a “yes, please”)
• Keeps your skin looking healthy

And Healthline lists even more benefits of staying well hydrated including: 

• Increasing physical performance 
• Treating and preventing headaches (This one is particularly true for me)
• Increased energy level and brain function (and I can definitely use this.  #momlife, am I right?)
• Helps with weight loss
• Helps prevent kidney stones

How Much Water Should You Drink Each Day? 

You have likely heard the guideline that adults should drink at least 8 glasses or 64 ounces of water daily. 

And while that is useful guidance, and in my opinion a helpful place to start, the fact is that how much water you should drink in a day varies from person to person and depends on several factors.  

According to the Mayo Clinic, adults women probably need between 8 and 11.5 glasses of water each day. 

Some of the factors that can affect your daily water needs include: 

• Environment – excess heat and humidity that cause you to sweat more, will cause you to need more water. 
• Overall health
• Exercise
• Whether or not you are pregnant or breastfeeding (breastfeeding moms should drink about 13 cups of water daily!)

10 Practical Ways to Drink More Water

Now that we have our “why”, let’s dive (get it, water? dive?) right into some simple ways you can start drinking more water today.

1. Start of your day with a glass of water

One of the easiest ways to increase your water intake is to simply start of your day with a glass of water.  Remember that water can increase your energy and brain function?  

Yep.  Drink a glass first thing.  

Keep a water bottle on your nightstand so it is there when you wake up.  You won’t even have to think about it!

2.  Keep your water nearby during the day

Speaking of having it there when you wake up, keeping a water bottle nearby when you’re on the go is one of the best ways to get enough water each day.

This is actually my top tip to keep you well hydrated.   

This is the water bottle that I use most frequently, although we have several in rotation around here. 

3.  Get a water bottle you like

There are many preferences on water bottles.  I tend to prefer water bottles with straws, though others do not. 

I also care about it being insulated because I like my water to stay cold, but maybe this is less important to you. 

The important thing is to find a water bottle that you like, that holds ideally at least 20 ounces of water or more, and that you can easily take with you.  

Many people even like getting one water bottle to hold all their water for the day so they can easily track their progress.  If you are just starting out, this might be helpful. 

4.  Set a reminder

Set a reminder on your phone, or put up a sticky note on the fridge or somewhere else where you’ll see it to drink water.  When you see it, drink some water. 

Every little bit will add up. 

5.  Drink a glass of water before each meal

Another easy tip is to drink a glass of water before each meal.  Being well hydrated before eating can help control your food intake, and thus your weight.  

Sip on water while you’re cooking or prepping dinner to make sure you get it in.  

6.  Add some flavor to your water

If you get bored easily with the taste of water, add some flavor to it! 

There are many flavor packets on the market for water, or you can simply add in some fruit for a good, healthy flavor mix.  

Here are   that you can start with!

7.  Make it bubbly

If you crave soft drinks and that fizzy carbonation, try natural seltzer water. 

You can find them in lots of flavors and it is a good way to transition from soft drinks if that is your current go to.  

8.  Eat foods with high water content

Think drinking water is the only way to increase your water intake? 

 It is certainly the most obvious.  But another way to up your hydration is to eat foods that are high in water content.  

This includes many fruits and vegetables (hello, watermelon and cucumbers – and many more), and even soups and broths.

If you are tracking your water intake, it will be difficult to actually track how much water you get from food sources, but it’s good to note that it counts, too! 

9.  Track your water intake

You can use an app or print out a tracker that helps you keep track of how much water you drink each day.  Simply mark off a glass for each cup of water you drink.  

10.  Keep it up

Just like working towards any goal, some days are better than others.  But, if you keep at it, you will start to see progress.  

And, the more you do it, the more you will grow accustomed to getting enough water each day.  

Trust me, your body will thank you.  

How are you staying hydrated this summer?  What are your favorite ways to get enough water?  What keeps you from getting enough water each day? 

**I am not a doctor and do not give out medical advice.  This post is meant to share my experiences and advice, but please consult with your own licensed, medical expert before making any health related decisions.