I have posted about this before, and with the new year I have decided to get back on the water-drinking horse.  Most of us know that there are benefits to drinking more water, but we still can’t bring ourselves to drink those 8 glasses a day.  Success requires some planning.

Here are the plans I recommend:

1. Evaluate the beverages in your house and reduce the number by one, just one. The beverage options in our house include wine, beer, champagne, orange juice, apple cider, milk, iced tea, coffee and water.  Seems like a lot, huh? I am going to stop buying apply cider on a regular basis.

2. Keep water bottles wherever you go. I currently keep water in my purse/bag, on my desk at work, and on my night stand.  I am also going to make a point of always having a bottle with me in the car, so I can drink it on the go.

3. Buy some good reusable water bottles.  This is a good idea for your health, the planet & your wallet.  I like SIGG bottles. Spring It!

4. Keep track of how much water you drink each day. I made a “water drinking log” in springpad. Being accountable to myself really does seem to help. (See what my water drinking log looks like) Spring It!

Will these plans simplify my life? I’ll let you know.

We all know the health benefits of drinking more water. But if it were so easy, we wouldn’t be talking about it.  Here are some ideas to make it easier:

1.  Set a daily goal & keep track of your progress.  I recommend starting with 1 Liter & working your way up to 3 Liters.
2.  Buy a good reusable bottle (preferably non-leaching).
3.  Fill up your bottle every morning & carry it with you everywhere.
4.  Don’t be afraid to ask restaurants to fill your bottle when you are on the go – Starbucks, McDonald’s, even in airports.
5.  Until it becomes habit, set an hourly alarm on your email or phone:  “DRINK MORE WATER”

Will drinking more water simplify your life? Absolutely.
Just think of all of those calories & dollars you’ll save by skipping soda.

Resources
Nutrition Guide on About.com Hydration Calculator
BoingBoing Eight Reusable Water Bottles Compared
WikiHow How to Drink More Water Every Day
That’s Fit Bottle Water Myths Exposed
Wisebread Bottled Water, Bottled Hype
Dumb Little Man 9 Great Reasons to Drink Water, and How to Form the Water Habit