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There’s one item you’ll find on just about every list of healthy habits, and that’s to make sure you drink enough water. Your body is made of water and needs a steady supply to keep it functioning at its best. This is especially important in the summer when it’s  hot, or if you exercise a lot. Did you know that feeling thirsty is sign that you’re already dehydrated? It’s true, thirst is your body’s way of telling you it needs more water, so you should keep yourself hydrated throughout the day, drinking even when you’re not yet thirsty. There a different opinions about how much water you need to drink, depending on your weight, gender, level of physical activity, and other factors. I’m no doctor, so I won’t prescribe an amount; I’ll just say you need to listen to your body.

Water happens to be my drink of choice, and I like it, so I drink a lot of it all day long, but I know that some people have trouble getting in the optimal amount of water every day, so here’s a list of some things that can help you get your recommended ounces of water throughout the day:

1. Buy a water bottle you like:

I’m not kidding- you’ll want to drink more if you can do it out of a bottle that makes you happy! Go for pretty, or get one with lines that let you keep track of how much you’re downing. Go to the store and have fun picking one out.

2. Carry it with you: 

Once you have the water bottle that makes you happy, get used to taking it where ever you go. You’ll be able to sip from it regularly and you’ll never be thirsty!

3. Flavor your water:

Plain water can get a little…plain, so jazz it up by infusing it with fruits and herbs that you like. Try a new combo each day to keep it interesting.

4. Get an app:

There are free apps that remind you to drink water and keep track of how much you’ve drank all day.

5. Drink before each meal:

Making something a habit is a good way to stay consistent, and drinking a glass of water about 20 minutes before a meal can also prevent you from overeating.

6. Eat hydrating foods:

You don’t have to drink all your water- you can eat some of it, too! Make sure your daily diet includes fruits and veggies that have a high water content, like grapefruit, cucumber, watermelon.

7. Get a fiter:

You might not be drinking as much water as you should because your tap water doesn’t taste that great. You can fix that with a filter.

8. Drink after every time you use the bathroom:

If you build times for drinking water into your day, you’ll get used to drinking at those times. After each bathroom visit is a good time because it will remind you to replace the fluids you just got rid of.

9. Set alarms:

We all have so much going in, it can be hard to remember certain things, so set alarms on your phone to remind you to have a drink.

10. Match each alcoholic drink with a glass of water:

Alcohol is dehydrating, so you’ll feel a lot better if you have one glass of water for each alcoholic drink.

How do you make sure to drink enough water? Share with us on Facebook and Twitter!