5 Easy Ways to Drink Enough Water

We all know we should drink more water, but we still rarely achieve those coveted eight glasses a day. In fact, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 43% of U.S. adults drink less than four cups of water daily.

Last week, First Lady Michelle Obama announced a new initiative called DrinkUp, encouraging Americans to drink more water to improve their health. Hydration is critical to cleanse our body of toxins, maintain high energy, ensure a strong immune system, and keep our skin looking vibrant.

If you suffer from headaches, achy joints, or fatigue, the simplest remedy is to drink more water.

Here are my top five tips to increase your water intake and reap the benefits:

1. Drink water first thing in the morning.

I always start my day by drinking a glass of water. Each night, I put a clean glass in my bathroom so it’s the first thing I see in the morning. Before I brush my teeth, I fill the glass with water and start drinking. I keep that glass next to me as I get dressed, write in my journal, and pack my bag for work. The results: I always drink at least two glasses of water by breakfast and get a head start on my way to eight glasses a day.

2. Sweeten water naturally with fruit.

Sometimes I want to liven up my water up with a hint of flavor. I like to use the Aquazinger water bottle to chop and mix in organic ingredients. My three favorites infusions are watermelon mint, pineapple, and cucumber water. If berries and citrus are your thing, a raspberry lime infusion is also lively and delectable.

3. Invest in a water bottle or carafe that you love.

Have you noticed how a new outfit makes you feel more energetic and confident? If you’re drinking out of an uninspiring water pitcher or that well-worn gym bottle, its time for an upgrade. I may be partial, but I recommend the Soma water filter. The glass carafe is beautiful, and the filters are biodegradable and delivered to your door every other month so you always have fresh, pure water. I love having my Soma next to me throughout day.

4. Track your progress throughout the day.

It’s one thing to initiate a change and commit to drinking more water. It’s quite another to maintain that change until it transforms into habit. I find that an external reminder to help keep me in check is essential. One such thing is Lift, an app which makes forming positive habits an easy, fun, social game. You can set up one or multiple reminders on Lift, and once you start to gain momentum, you won’t want to stop.

5. End your day with herbal tea.

Although water by itself acts as a natural elixir, hydrating in the form of herbal tea has additional health benefits. Simply squeezing lemon into warm water can help to boost the immune system, aid in weight lost and digestion, and even purge toxins to clear skin.

I enjoy mixing up my herbal tea blends throughout the day. My favorite cleansing tea is a Turmeric Spice Organic Herbal Blend—an enjoyable ginger and citrus infused, earthy turmeric tea. When I want a good night’s sleep, I drink an organic Nighty Night tea which includes passionflower, an herbal ingredient known to make you drowsy. Herbal teas are a great way to experience different flavors while hydrating, in addition to acquiring natural health benefits.

What are things you do to hydrate throughout the day?