19 Easy Ways To Drink More Water Every Day( Without Forcing It)
Most of us know we should be drinking more water, and yet many of us don’t. Between the busy days, forgetting to refill our bottles, or simply not loving the taste of plain water ( though I don’t mind it), hydration often falls to the bottom of the priority list.
What most of us don’t realize is that consistently low water intake can affect far more than just thirst.
Hydration plays a very important role in digestion, energy levels, focus, skin health, and even appetite regulation( yes, sometimes our bodies confuse thirst with hunger). Indeed, for people trying to lose weight, drinking more water could be a huge factor in successful weight loss.
When you’re dehydrated, your body doesn’t function at its best. And sometimes, the signals show up as fatigue, headaches, or cravings rather than just thirst.
The good news? Drinking more water isn’t that complicated. It doesn’t require forcing yourself to chug gallons of water a day or obsess over exact numbers.
Building better hydration habits is about small changes that will fit naturally into your current daily routine.
For instance, I keep a bottle of water on my person at all times. So, I do okayish with my water intake, but I can definitely do better.
Here are simple, low-effort ways to drink more water every day.
Even if you only try one or two of these, I am pretty confident you’ll be able to increase your overall intake in a couple of days.
Low-Effort Ways to Drink More Water
1. Start Your Day With One Glass of Water
Yes, before coffee, breakfast, or scrolling your phone, drink one glass of water after waking up.
Your body naturally loses water overnight, so this small habit is vital to kick-starting your hydration for the day.
Make drinking this one glass of water after waking up a non-negotiable part of your morning routine.
2. Keep Water Where You Already Are
One of the easiest ways to drink more water is to make it unavoidable. In fact, this is my biggest tip here. And it blows all of my other ways to drink water out of the water.
Why is this so important? This is because drinking more water is about building a habit. And how can you build a habit if the water is “non-existent?”
Keep water within arm’s reach in places you already spend time:
- Your desk
- Your bedside table
- Your bag
- Your car
If water is nearby, you’ll naturally sip more without even realizing it.
3. Use a Water Bottle You Actually Like ( Maybe a Motivational Bottle?)
If you dislike your water bottle, whether it’s too heavy, awkward to drink from, or just not your style, you’re less likely to use it.
You can make it more fun with a motivational or time-marked bottle. The visual reminders can be particularly helpful if you’re into visual reminders.
Use a bottle you like; even something as simple as a straw lid can dramatically increase how much water you actually drink.
4. Add Natural Flavor to Your Water
If plain water feels a little boring, adding flavor can make a big difference.
Simple options include:
- Lemon or lime slices
- Cucumber
- Mint
- Fresh or frozen berries
These simple, natural additions will make your water super refreshing without turning it into sugary drinks.
5. Drink a Glass of Water Before Each Meal
Make it a habit to drink one glass of water before breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
That’s three extra glasses a day with minimal effort.
Drinking water before a meal also helps with digestion and prevents all too many cases of mistaking thirst for hunger.
6. Pair Water With Habits You Already Have
Instead of relying on reminders, attach water intake to habits you already do every day.
Like:
- After brushing your teeth
- During skincare
- While cooking
This “habit stacking” approach makes hydration feel automatic, not forced.
7. Sip Don’t Chug
If you want to drink more water, you’re better off sipping throughout the day instead of chugging.
As someone who chugs, this will be a nice change of pace.
So, why sip and not chug? Drinking too much water at once can feel uncomfortable and actually lead to bloating.
Small, consistent sips throughout the day are often easier on digestion and more sustainable long-term.
Chugging seems like catch-up mode, and sipping is more steady hydration.
8. Use Herbal Teas as Part of Your Hydration
Caffeine-free herbal teas still count toward fluid intake. And they provide a nice change from just plain old water.
Great options include peppermint, chamomile, or ginger. These are particularly comforting in the evening when cold water doesn’t seem all that appealing.
Including herbal teas is a great option if you struggle to drink water later in the day.
RELATED: 14 Healthy Herbal Teas
9. Eat More Water-Rich Foods
Hydration doesn’t only come from drinks. Many fruits and vegetables have a high water content, including:
- Watermelon
- Cucumbers
- Oranges
- Strawberries
- Soups and broths
These foods are a particularly good way to drink more water because they support hydration while also providing nutrients.
10. Keep Your Water Cold if That Helps You Drink More
Some people dislike the taste of warm or room-temperature water and tend to drink more water when it’s very cold.
If that’s you, keep I’ve in hand and use an insulated bottle or cup to maintain the temperature longer.
Generally, cold water can feel more refreshing and easier to drink, especially in warm weather.
11. Use Gentle Time Anchors Instead of Constant Reminders
Instead of setting frequent reminders that often feel annoying and stressful, try using loose time anchors such as:
- One glass by mid-morning
- Three glasses total by mid-day
- Four or five glasses total by mid-afternoon
- Six or seven glasses total by evening.
These simple time anchors will create some sort of structure without making hydration a difficult task that you’re failing at.
12. Use a Straw
This sounds so simple that you can almost overlook it. Using a straw often leads to drinking more water without you even realizing it.
Many people naturally sip more frequently when a straw is involved, especially when working or scrolling.
If you’re one of those people who struggle to remember to drink more water, this small change can make a whole world of difference.
13. Track Lightly with a Free Hydration App or Printable.
You don’t have to make tracking hard or something that you have to do forever. You only need to track in the initial stages while you’re still building the habit.
Using a free hydration app or a simple printable for a few days can help you become more aware of your current habits and how best to drink more water if you’re not drinking enough.
Once you have a system established, you can let go of tracking and just focus on keeping the habit on a daily basis, rather than focusing on hitting a perfect number.
14. Make Sure You Have Enough Reusable Water Bottles
This sounds like a silly tip to drink more water, don’t you think? But hear me out. If you only have one bottle, chances are it won’t always be clean or available when you need it.
So, you should have multiple reusable bottles. This means, no excuses, no skipping hydration because your bottle is dirty, and just less friction overall.
This small change will make drinking more water so much easier.
15. Don’t Wait Until You’re Thirsty
Thirst is often a sign that your body is already mildly dehydrated. So, instead of waiting for that signal, aim for steady sips throughout the day.
This will support consistent hydration and avoid cases where you have to play catch-up later and just chug water.
16. Turn It into a Friendly Challenge
If you’re having a particularly difficult time getting into the habit of drinking more water, turning it into a challenge with family members or a group of friends can make it a little bit more motivating.
Create a casual challenge with friends or family to see who can stay the most consistent over a few days or weeks.
It doesn’t have to be super competitive, just the accountability, if it can actually help you build the habit fast. Use
But of course, if you’re in a competitive group or family, make it a competition so the winner can get bragging rights.
At the very least, this is a good way to track how much water you’re drinking every day.
17. Frozen Fruit for Infused Water
Frozen fruit serves two purposes: it keeps your water cold and adds a subtle flavor as it thaws.
Some awesome options include:
- Berries
- Citrus slices
- Grapes
Using frozen fruits is a simple way to make water more interesting without added sugar.
And if you don’t like chunks of thawing fruit in your water, you can get infusion water bottles.
18. Use Flavor Drops
If you’re trying to move from sugary drinks to drinking more water, flavor drops can be a great bridge.
Go for options with minimal ingredients and no added sugar.
Even just using flavor drops occasionally can help increase your overall water intake while your taste buds adjust to plain water.
And there are so many different kinds now, so you are definitely bound to find at least one you’ll like.
Here is a nice variety pack that is sweetened naturally instead of artificial sugars.
19. Switch to a Larger Water Bottle
Using a larger water bottle reduces how often you need to refill it. It’s a no-brainer. This simple change removes one additional barrier to drinking more water.
I mean, when water is already there in front of you, it’s easier to sip consistently throughout the day.
But please don’t overdo it. Choose a size that feels practical rather than overwhelming. Here’s an awesome 1-gallon water bottle with time markers from AQUAFIT.
Final Thoughts
You don’t have to run a strict or complicated program to drink more water.
Even small changes, like switching your water bottle, adding flavor, or drinking more herbal tea, can significantly increase your daily intake over time.
If you’re struggling with hydration, just choose one or two tops from the list above to start. Once those feel natural, you can add two more and build from there.
Remember, hydration is a habit; it shouldn’t be a hardcore rule. So, the best approach is one that fits your lifestyle.
Until the next one loves.
Zine
Next Read: Electrolytes: Benefits, Signs You Need More, and Homemade Electrolyte Recipes
