Recently, I made it a priority to drink at least 64 ounces of water a day. I know we’ve said a million times that drinking water is important for helping you get that glow from the inside and out. So I decided it was time to start practicing what I preach.
And you know what I learned? All of the hydration hype is real.
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How real? You know how sometimes you’re reading a magazine and some celebrity says that staying hydrated is her biggest beauty secret, and you roll your eyes? I now fully endorse such claims.
Here’s my water schedule and the 11 lessons and tips I learned by seriously upping my water intake. Plus 7 infused water recipes to get you started!
Jump to:
- My Water Schedule
- 1. Start every day with at least one glass.
- 2. Keep a water bottle glued to your hip.
- 3. Guzzle before you eat.
- 4. Don’t buy your drinking water. Get a dedicated water pitcher instead.
- 5. Flavor is your friend.
- 6. Try something other than water—like tea and sparkling water
- 7. You’ll see physical improvements.
- 8. You’ll start to crave water.
- 9. Your skin really will improve.
- 10. You’ll save money.
- 11. You’ll feel really darn accomplished.
- Increasing Your Water Intake FAQ
- 📖 Recipe
My Water Schedule
—Within 30 minutes of waking up: 8 to 16 ounces
—30 to 60 minutes before each meal: 8 ounces
—During a meal: limit to 4 to 8 ounces
—Start drinking water again 60 minutes after each meal
—Between meals: 16 ounces or more
—Before bed: 8 ounces
1. Start every day with at least one glass.
Make drinking water one of the first things you do, and it will become habit in no time. Try starting your day with a tall glass with a little lemon juice (lemon ice cubes make this much easier!) or mix up a cleanse water for extra detox benefits. It’s become such a habit that now I crave that warm glass of water every morning when I wake up.
2. Keep a water bottle glued to your hip.
Because you won’t drink enough if you don’t bring water with you! My water bottle now goes with me everywhere, and I make sure it’s filled up before I head out the door. You’d be surprised how much of your hydration goal you can knock out while sitting in traffic, heading to the store, or running errands.
Here’s the thing: you can’t drink more water if you don’t have easy access to it. This is definitely an “out of sight, out of mind” issue—at least for me.
And I’ll be honest, I panic a little bit if I head out the door and realize later that I don’t have my water bottle! Because I know I’ll get thirsty and it’s just easier if you plan ahead. Make sure to buy one that you’ll actually use, that fits in your car cup holder, and that isn’t a pain (or too ugly) to lug around with you.
Glass is ideal for water bottles, however BPA-free plastic is alright if you’re worried about breakage. I’ve used this 32-ounce Nalgene bottle forever because I hate straws and I don’t have to worry about dropping it.
But I work from home so filling it up isn’t a problem; if you know you won’t have access to filtered water throughout the day go for a bigger size. I love that this 64 oz bottle has time markers to keep your water consumption on track for the day.
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Whatever you pick, just make sure to wash your water bottle with a brush often!
3. Guzzle before you eat.
Water with lemon is the perfect beverage before breakfast. And now I won’t eat until I’ve emptied my 32-ounce water bottle before lunch and dinner.
This helps me feel full since thirst is often mistaken for hunger. Plus, it prevents me from drinking during meals, which can sometimes interfere with digestion.
4. Don’t buy your drinking water. Get a dedicated water pitcher instead.
I am not a fan of plastic water bottles. Tap water is so easy, and it’s free!
I’d much rather invest in a good water filter that I can use over and over rather than drink-and-toss plastic bottles. Try a filtered water pitcher that reduces bad taste, odor, chloramine, and chlorine from your water.
This could be a Brita-type filter pitcher, or just a large glass bottle you refill as needed. Sure, you’ll have to walk to the kitchen or break room a lot, but you’ll always have a supply of refreshing, cold water at the ready—and if you work at a desk, you’re better off getting up for short breaks throughout the day. You’re probably going to be needing to visit the bathroom more anyway!
I’m a fan of this 41-ounce glass pitcher with a handle; it’s large enough that I don’t have to refill it often, but small enough that I don’t feel like I’m going to drop it when it’s full. I also use this countertop model because we go through a lot of water!
5. Flavor is your friend.
Drinking plain, filtered water can be an abrupt switch if you’re used to sweetened sodas or teas. So don’t be afraid to add flavor with spices (cinnamon or ginger), fruit (berries or citrus are my favorites), herbs (mint or rosemary), or veggies (cucumber). Make sure to wash all produce you add in, cut off skins or peels if necessary, and buy organic if at all possible (you don’t want to drink pesticide-infused water).
You can also dilute a couple of tablespoons of apple or other juice into your water. I also like to add electrolyte powder—it’s tasty but sugar free.
When you make drinking water feel like a treat (like fancy spa water) instead of a chore, you will be more inclined to reach for it on the regular. Check out the flavored water recipes below or try one of these recipes. Here’s an infused water tutorial to get you started.
Fruit infusion ideas
Summer infusion ideas
Fall infusion ideas
Immune-booster infusion ideas
If you’re not a fan of straining or picking out mint leaves or chunks of cantaloupe every time you pour a glass, look for a glass (or BPA-free plastic) infuser pitcher that keeps the infusing agents contained. There are also countertop versions of these.
6. Try something other than water—like tea and sparkling water
Hydration doesn’t have to just mean still water. Now I’m addicted to herbal tea! Zero calories and it’s warm and flavorful.
Plus when you think about how much water you already use in a day, you realize it’s all the time! I use water to make my morning coffee and my afternoon green tea, cooking rice, and making plant milk.
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I add filtered water to my favorite Glowing Green smoothies. And you need water for fresh, simple syrups for better-tasting cocktails. All of those count (except maybe for the coffee because it is a diuretic, so I just call it even on that one).
Sparkling water or non-caffeinated teas will still keep you hydrated, as will tasty waters like coconut water, watermelon water or maple water. (The latter group does contain sugar, though, so drink it in moderation.)
7. You’ll see physical improvements.
I wasn’t expecting revolutionary changes in my body when I started drinking more water, and the improvements were subtle at first. As I moved into week two, I noticed I had more energy and felt less bloated.
Then it occurred to me that I wasn’t getting mid-afternoon headaches as often. I also started feeling like I had better concentration and more energy than I typically did before in the afternoons when blood sugar crashes would send me on a quest for snacks, coffee, or both around 3 pm every day.
This may also be a function of what I am NOT drinking, namely—diet soda. There is no doubt that I am avoiding dehydration throughout the day by maximizing my water intake, but I think some of those symptoms were from the sugary things I used to drink.
8. You’ll start to crave water.
You would think that after drinking so much water, you’d never be thirsty, but it’s the opposite. The more water I drank, the more I missed it when I slacked off.
When falling behind on my daily goal, I noticed that I was super thirsty, tired, and sluggish. Suddenly, I was craving water more than food, and that never happens.
9. Your skin really will improve.
Once I’d reached peak hydration after several weeks of drinking more water, I noticed a big difference on the outside too. My skin, which usually tends toward dry, wasn’t as dry or itchy as it typically was. I found myself using less lotion and lip balm, and my skin felt less tight after cleansing.
Next came fewer breakouts and—dare I say it?—a luminous glow. My bare skin started to look more like my skin post-makeup, post-highlighter application. It wasn’t flawless, but it was good enough that I no longer felt uncomfortable going out without makeup.
At first, I thought it was just my imagination. But when friends started asking what I was doing differently with my beauty routine—had I found new makeup, better moisturizer, or perhaps the holy grail of natural-looking highlighters?—I knew I was onto something.
10. You’ll save money.
If all of the above isn’t enough to make you want to up your water intake, perhaps saving money will be a good incentive. The fact of the matter is that when you’re drinking this much water every day, you don’t have the time or bandwidth to drink much else.
That means you’re saving money on flavored drinks, afternoon coffee runs, and sugary sodas. Seeing lower weekly grocery bills was an unexpected bonus for sure!
11. You’ll feel really darn accomplished.
Set a goal for the day (most experts recommend half of your body weight in ounces) and track it in a notebook or download an app like Waterlogged to make sure you’re reaching that goal. It will make drinking water feel like more of an accomplishment, especially if you’re competitive by nature!
Then you should definitely annoy toot your horn to your friends and family talking about how awesome you are for drinking all that water. What tricks do you use to up your water intake?
Increasing Your Water Intake FAQ
📖 Recipe
Photos by Ana Stanciu
This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Gina Jansheski, a licensed, board-certified physician who has been practicing for more than 20 years. Learn more about Hello Glow’s medical reviewers here. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
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