I am the first to admit it. I am horrible about drinking water. I just don’t like it. I know it’s important to stay hydrated, and I tell my patients to do it all the time. Once I get to work, it is often so busy that I don’t get time to drink as much as I’d like. And then I end up with a headache and I’m like, oh yeah, I didn’t drink water today. And my desk is literally next to the water machine. Sad. I know.

There’s some debate about how much we should drink daily- always check in with your doc for their recommendation. Here we’re going with a general recommendation of 8 cups or 2 liters per day, which is a good place to start unless you’re on some type of fluid restriction.

1. Drink it right when you get up. Have your glass or water bottle right next to you. This is something that I did for quite a while and it was really helpful. When you wake up, before you even get out of bed, drink that water. Okay? Okay good. Now you can get up.
2. Use a liter bottle and get at least one in before lunchtime. Then drink the second throughout the rest of the afternoon/evening. This was a trick my midwives gave me when I was pregnant with my daughter. I was often mistaking my thirst for hunger. Staying hydrated makes sure you’re satisfying your thirst, making it easier to know when you’re actually hungry.
3. Make it appetizing. So maybe, like me, you don’t like the taste of plain water. Try flavoring it, or mixing some seltzer with it (but make sure you’re not adding extra caffeine with that flavor!). There are many types of water flavorings at the store, just be aware of what is actually in them- these are more chemical-based alternatives. Try to use these sparingly to help meet your quota.
4. Add fruits. Adding fruit is a great way to add some flavor naturally! Think lemon slices, lime slices, oranges. You can add berries like blueberries or strawberries. Try some cucumber slices. Experiment to see what you like best!
5. Add fresh herbs. If you have an herb garden, this is a great way to use those herbs during the summer. Add a little thyme or basil and see what kind of water flavors you can come up with. Mix these up with some items from #4 and the combinations are endless.
6. Consider other beverages that you drink. Are you a milk drinker? How about tea and coffee? Contrary to popular belief, these beverages actually count toward your total intake. Also this does not mean that you can get all of your water from coffee or from Turkey Hill iced tea. Trust me! I’m a nurse.
7. Consider the fruits you eat. Many fruits like watermelon and cantaloupe are full of water. You might be closer to meeting your quota than you think!

Do you have any good tips to share? And are you a water drinker? I’d love to hear from you!