Water is crucial to our health and wellbeing so drinking it regularly is essential for our bodies and our minds. But many of us don't drink enough water to keep us fully hydrated and only drink when we become thirsty. So whether you’re out and about, at home, or at work, how can you make a healthy, daily habit of drinking water?

Make drinking water a habit

When it comes to how much water you should be drinking each day, the general rule is around 6-8 glasses, as recommended by the NHS. But even though there are plenty of health benefits to staying hydrated it can sometimes be difficult to get into the habit of doing it regularly.

We all have a hectic schedule, so trying to take self-enforced water breaks probably won't happen despite our best efforts. And if you’re busy at home or work, you might forget to drink water completely. So how do you get into the habit of drinking water regularly every day?

The simple answer is to consciously make it a habit so it becomes automatic. But getting into that routine in the first place, especially if it’s good for your health, can be hard. So whatever you’re doing, the challenge is to start and keep on doing it – even drinking water.

Small changes, big results

Small changes to your routine can bring big results and help you to create a healthy habit of drinking water, here are a few tips to help you.

Have a glass of water in the morning

While you’re waiting for the kettle to boil or the coffee machine to whir into life, pour yourself a glass of water. You may need a prompt, like leaving a glass out the night before or setting an alert on your phone. But you’ll soon get used to pouring and drinking that glass of water to kickstart your day.

Take a water bottle to work

Taking a water bottle and keeping it on your desk can give you a visual prompt to drink more. Again, if you’re not used to doing it, it’s easily forgotten, so try filling it up when you drink your glass of water first thing in the morning? One action should be a cue to do the other so you’ll soon get into the habit of doing both. And if you have access to a water cooler during the day, you can even refill it.

Flavour your water

Even with the best will in the world, you might not drink enough water because its natural, unflavoured taste puts you off. If that‘s the case, try adding some flavour to it to encourage you. Simple things like adding fresh citrus fruit or even just a splash of fruit squash can add a zing to make all the difference.

Make drinking water a health habit

Getting into a new habit of drinking more water can take a while – common research suggests a new habit can take anywhere from 18 to 250 days to become automatic – but sticking with it can give you a real health boost.

If you need a water cooler at your work or in your home to help keep you drinking water, contact our customer service team. Call 01392 877 172 or email hello@thirstywork.com today and we can start you on a no-obligation 10-day free water cooler trial to help get you into the habit.