Ways to Remember to Drink Water

Placement

• Keep water handy. Put a bottle in your purse, car, and desk door -- anywhere you normally spend time. Keep your favorite glass next to the sink. You will be more apt to drink plenty of water if you keep it at arm's length at all times.
  
  

Set Goals

• Until you can make drinking water a habit, you will need to set some goals. Whether you commit to eight glasses a day or three-quarters of a 2-liter bottle, set your water goals and keep them. Start small and work up to your goal amount. You can reach adequate water intake from drinking other fluids, as well, so part of your goal can be a different beverage.
  
  

Meals

• Mayo Clinic suggests drinking a glass of water with every meal and between meals. (See Resources 1) This will make it easier to meet your water intake goals, as well act as a hunger suppressant. The water will make you feel fuller, thus eat less.
  
  

Reminders

• Create little reminders to drink more water. Leave yourself notes, set your cell phone alarm, or change your computer desktop picture to a glass of water. It will take a while for you to adopt the habit of drinking water, so make sure you place reminders to drink more everywhere you tend to be.
  
  

In Hand

• In addition to keeping water in the places where you spend time, take it with you everywhere you go. Holding the water, not just having it sit on the desk, will encourage you to actually drink it. Keep a bottle next to your keys and carry it with you when you go somewhere. If you go to the next room, take some water to drink. Once you make it a habit of keeping it with you, you will pick up the habit of drinking more water every day.
  
  

Precautions

• Though drinking plenty of fluids is important, it is possible to drink too much water. If you drink more than your body can use, the excess can lower sodium levels in your blood. If you are concerned with how much water you need to drink a day, consult your physician or a registered dietitian. Since everyone needs a different amount of water to function properly, a health professional may be helpful in determining the amount that's best for you. (See References 1)