We all know how important it is to drink plenty of water every day, right? But making sure we actually do it can be a chore.

Well, as the kids say, “There’s an app for that.”

Just go to Google and type in “free app for tracking water consumption” or something similar. You’ll get plenty of choices.

Don’t like phone apps? If you’re more of an “analog” kind of person, there are non-computerized solutions, too.

Figuring out a system you like that helps you remember to drink more water will be SO worth it!

Being well-hydrated helps to clear out brain fog and gives you more energy to exercise. It makes it easier for your heart to pump blood, keeps your joints lubricated, helps your muscles contract, and helps you think more clearly.

It also helps flush away the cellular wastes that are part of your body’s ongoing healing process. That’s why drinking plenty of water is so important when you’re eating my Micronized Purple Rice (MPR) powder. 

MPR is so highly charged and assimilable that it does not even have to be digested — it is the perfect food, and it goes right to the heart of each cell (the mitochondria) which then produces ATP light energy so the body can heal itself.

But since it speeds up the healing process, more water is required to carry away the cellular wastes that pile up as a result.

My health coaches and I always recommend drinking about half your body weight in ounces of water per day. For instance, if you weigh 120 pounds, you should drink 60 ounces, which is nearly half a gallon, or eight 8-oz. glasses.

If you’re trying to slim down, drinking plenty of water is crucial. People who drink more water tend to consume fewer calories and make healthier food choices.

Now, in addition to using a water-tracking phone app, here are six more ideas you can use to get into the habit of drinking more water.

1. Set up a reminder system

You might want to use your day planner or calendar for this. It could be as simple as writing in an x, a checkmark, or even a little heart or star for each 8-oz. glass of water you drink.

Figure out the number of glasses you need every day, and each time you pour a glass or fill your bottle, mark it on your calendar. You might even want to get some gold stars to stick into your calendar for each glass of water. Reward yourself!

You can easily get in two of the day’s glasses of water by having a glass when you wake up and one right before you go to bed. This helps prevent strokes, too. Get into the habit of having a glass at the same time you have your purple rice!

2. Get a pretty bottle

I like glass bottles, so I don’t have to worry about BPA or other plastics leaching into my water. You can get really nice glass bottles that have silicone sleeves to make them less breakable. They’re available online and in stores. The bottle can still break if you drop it onto a hard surface, but the silicone sleeve will prevent that most of the time.

If you’re like me and tend to lose water bottles, rather than carrying one around everywhere you go, you could have one bottle for home and another for work, one to keep in your gym bag, and one for the car. The silicone sleeves come in all colors. Again, reward yourself!

3. Make infused waters

I blogged about infused waters a while back, so check out that article to get some ideas.

Infused waters are so refreshing! I love how clean they taste (and the fact that they’re zero calories!), yet the flavors make my tastebuds happy. Rosemary/strawberry is one of my favorites.

If you drink sodas, fruit juices, or other sugary drinks, replace them with infused waters today. Your tastebuds will thank you, and so will your waistline!

4. Pre-measure the day’s water

You can do this by getting a glass bistro jar to keep in the fridge. This works especially well if you work from home. Leave it out on the counter if you find it easier to drink room-temperature water.

Figure out how many ounces you need for the day, then determine how much your jar holds. You might need two jars. You could have one with plain filtered water and the other a tasty infused water.

Then just make sure you’ve drunk the whole amount by the end of the day.

5. Don’t wait until you feel thirsty

Older people in particular have a weaker thirst response. By the time you feel thirsty, your body may already be a bit dehydrated.

One good way to tell if you’re dehydrated is to look at your lips. If they are dry, there’s a good chance you’re not drinking enough water. Lips should be supple. Water is life!

And remember that if you’re not drinking enough water, often you will feel hungry when actually your body is asking for water, not food. We tend to misread those signals. That’s another reason why drinking plenty of water helps you slim down.

6. Consume extra water by eating juicy foods

This should be part of your daily routine anyway, but eating raw foods like cucumber, watermelon, tomatoes, and pomegranates will help with hydration. Did you know, for instance, that cucumbers are 96 percent water?

Not only do high-water-content foods help you increase your water intake, but they help your body thrive with lots of healthy enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients.

So get into the habit of eating as many raw veggies and fruits as you can — at least nine servings a day.

What tricks do you use to remind yourself to drink more water? Let me know in the comments below.