Drink more water: 10 tips that really work in everyday life
Drinking more water sounds simple – and yet it often fails in everyday life. Not because you don't want to, but because you simply forget. Between appointments, shopping and the evening, the glass sits half full somewhere. The good news: with a few small habits, drinking becomes almost automatic. In this guide you'll find practical tips that work without apps and without a feat of willpower.
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Why it's so hard
People who don't manage to drink more usually like water just fine. It almost always comes down to very practical reasons:
- No drink within reach: what isn't there doesn't get drunk.
- Distraction: when you're concentrating or on the move, you often notice thirst late.
- Wrong temperature: lukewarm water in summer or ice-cold water in winter isn't very inviting.
- No routine: without fixed moments, drinking is left to chance.
That's exactly where the following tips come in, helping you drink more without constantly thinking about it. How much you need roughly is covered separately: How much water a day? Here it's all about the how.
The most effective tips to drink more water
You can try the following ten ideas one by one. You don't have to do them all at once – pick two or three that suit your day.
1. Start the day with a glass
In the evening, put a glass or a filled bottle next to your bed or by the coffee machine. In the morning you drink it before the day really gets going. That way you've already had the first portion before you even think about it.
2. Link drinking to fixed moments
Habits stick better when they're linked to something you do anyway. Examples:
- a glass with every meal,
- a few sips after every phone call,
- refill your bottle when you fetch coffee,
- a glass when you get home and take off your shoes.
3. Always keep a bottle in sight
Perhaps the simplest trick of all: what you see, you reach for. A bottle on the table, in your bag or in the car reminds you in passing: don't forget to drink water. You'll also take a bottle you like with you more readily – so a beautiful design isn't just decoration.
4. Think in bottles
Instead of counting glasses, count fills. One 500 ml bottle in the morning, one at midday, one in the evening – a clear goal you can keep track of without a notebook. When the bottle is empty, refill it.
5. The temperature you like
If you like cold drinks in summer and warm ones in winter, you'll drink more when the drink is still the way you like it hours later. An insulated bottle helps: fill it with cold water in the morning and it's still fresh in the afternoon; fill it with warm tea in winter and it stays warm.
6. Variety without sugar
Drinking nothing but plain water quickly gets boring for some. Unsweetened herbal or fruit tea, water with a few slices of cucumber or a sprig of mint bring variety without sugar. Better to mix juice as a spritzer with plenty of water.
7. Reminders that suit you
Some swear by an alarm on their phone, others by a note on the screen or the fridge. Try out what doesn't annoy you. After a few weeks you often won't need the reminder at all.
8. Never without on the go
At home, many people manage to drink enough – on the go, hardly at all. A leak-proof bottle in your bag is the simplest solution – while shopping, in the car, on a walk. You can fill it with tap water at home and save yourself buying single-use bottles.
9. Plan for drinking water in your free time
When doing sport, gardening, at the lake or in the sauna, you sweat more than you notice. Pack a little more on days like these. At the sauna, the bottle belongs in the relaxation room, not in the cabin. Helpful here: our checklist Packing your sauna bag.
10. Drink more water together
Habits come more easily when others join in. A carafe of tap water on the dining table that everyone helps themselves from works wonders. Children copy a lot from their parents: if you visibly drink water yourself, you set the example. And if you arrange with colleagues or friends to refill your bottles together, you've built in a small break at the same time.
A sample day to copy
This is what a day can look like in which you drink more without much thought:
| Time | Habit | Drink |
|---|---|---|
| after getting up | finish the glass from the night before | water |
| before leaving | fill the bottle and pack it | water or tea |
| morning | a few sips at every short break | from the bottle |
| midday | a glass with your meal, refill the bottle | water |
| afternoon | finish the second fill | tea or water |
| evening | a glass with dinner, set out a glass for the next morning | water, herbal tea |
Important: it's not about ticking off every line perfectly. Even two or three fixed moments a day make a noticeable difference.
Typical pitfalls when resolving to drink more
- Everything at once: catching up on a litre quickly in the evening is unpleasant and achieves little. Better to drink water spread over the day.
- Overambitious goals: if you aim too high, you'll give up faster. Start with one extra bottle fill a day.
- Sweet drinks as a substitute: soft drinks and juice contain a lot of sugar. They're not a good thirst quencher.
- Forgetting the bottle: in the evening, put it next to your keys, washed and ready.
The right bottle as a helper
A good bottle makes many of the tips practical in the first place. Look for three things: it should be leak-proof so it can go in any bag, it should hold the temperature, and you should like it so you're happy to take it with you.
Our two IZY bottles do exactly that: 500 ml, double-walled, rust-free stainless steel, according to the manufacturer up to 12 hours hot and up to 24 hours cold, with a leak-proof screw cap and no condensation on the outside. They are BPA-free and taste-neutral – yesterday's tea won't taste through in today's water.
- IZY x Pip Studio "La Dolce Vita" thermos bottle – playful pattern, in a round gift tin.
- IZY Bottles Van Gogh Flowers thermos bottle – colourful floral design inspired by Vincent van Gogh.
You'll find both in our IZY collection. Care: wash by hand with warm water and mild washing-up liquid, not in the dishwasher.
Related reading: Drinking in winter: why it is harder and what helps · Drinking tap water: what you should know in Germany · Water bottle at the office: how to drink enough at work
Conclusion
If you want to drink more water, you mainly need good habits rather than good intentions. A glass in the morning, fixed drinking moments, a bottle in sight and thinking in fills get you further without much effort. An insulated bottle makes sure your drink is at the temperature you like – and so you'll automatically drink more often. For health questions about the right fluid intake, talk to your doctor.
Frequently asked questions
How can I drink more if I'm never thirsty?
Don't rely on feeling thirsty but on fixed moments: a glass with every meal, a bottle in sight and counting fills instead of glasses.
Does tea count too?
Yes. Unsweetened herbal or fruit tea is a good change from water.
Do apps help with drinking?
For some people, yes. Often, though, a bottle on the table and the goal of emptying it by midday is enough.
Is drinking warm water just as good as cold?
For your fluid intake, the temperature doesn't matter. What counts is that you drink what you enjoy – for many, warmer in winter and cooler in summer.
How is the bottle cleaned?
Clean our IZY bottles by hand with warm water and a little mild washing-up liquid and leave them open to dry. Not in the dishwasher.
Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam and sauna operator at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.