I have a ridiculous problem: I don’t particularly care for water. I don’t dislike it… but I’m not exactly excited to drink it, either.

It’s water. You know, tasteless, odorless, and colorless – basically “less” of all the sensational things we enjoy in life. Though studies prove water is healthy for us and necessary for life, we can all agree water is not very “fun” in and of itself.

Why do I need to drink water again?

Our bodies are roughly 60% water! A lack of water can lead to dehydration, reduced energy, and tiredness. Water does the following amazing things for our bodies:

• Gets rid of waste through bathroom trips and sweating
• Keeps your temperature normal and helps maintain blood pressure
• Lubricates and cushions joints
• Protects sensitive tissues
• Maintains healthy skin
• Maintains healthy weight
• Regulates brain and cellular function
• And so much more!

Experts can’t quite agree how much water is healthy to drink in a day, and it depends on variables like how much you sweat and where you live. There’s the 8×8 rule (8 eight-ounce glasses a day, or about a half-gallon), the theory that we need to be sipping on water consistently throughout the day, and the “drink 1/2 to 1 ounce per pound of your body weight” recommendation.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an adequate daily fluid intake for a healthy human is:

• About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids for men
• About 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women

I knew for a fact I wasn’t drinking that much (coffee doesn’t count, right?). So I embarked on a month-long experiment to see how I could make myself drink more water. The bottom line was that I needed ways to “revamp” my water, add some spice, and make it feel exciting like a treat. Otherwise, I simply got sucked into my work or whatever I was doing forget all about H2O.

Here are 5 ways to make water more exciting (so you end up drinking more):

1. 1. Infuse fresh fruit for a light sparkle on your taste buds.
      

      You can do this multiple ways, either by pouring your water in a pitcher beforehand and adding cut fruit like strawberries, kiwi, grapefruit, lemons, or lime, or simply adding individual fruit pieces to the glass or bottle you’re drinking out of. (The former saves you time and money, requiring less fruit and giving you more fruit-infused water at one time.)

      I like the holistic, natural technique here, but for those who sometimes fly by the seat of their pants (achem, like me), this can require too much advance planning and feel just a bit too fancy. In this case, see the next option.

       

      

   2. Add fruit juice (preferably a concentrate, not watered-down, sugary cocktail juices like most you find in the store).

      For example, I suffer from frequent UTIs (where are all my bladder infection peeps out there?) and drink cranberry concentrate to help lessen them. You can also use lemon and lime juice (Lakewood and Lucy’s brands are superb – we like supporting cooperatives and family-owned businesses), blueberry concentrate, or really any of your favorites.The good news is that it only takes a very small amount of juice to add a LOT of pizzazz to your water.

      *Please note: I know it may look expensive at a glance, but these last a LONG time because they are so concentrated. For me, I only add about 2 tsps of cranberry concentrate to a full 16-ounce glass of water. So while a juice in concentrate form might be more expensive up front, you need so little of it at a time (trust me, they are STRONG) that it ends up being fairly cost effective, nutritionally sound option. Your body will thank you!

      Lucy’s even sells affordable GALLON containers if you want it in bulk, like we do! (Find the gallon lemon juice here and the gallon lime juice here.)

      

   3. Try water enhancement (aka, water flavoring), either via liquid or powder.

      You’ve likely seen them in your local grocery store, but if you haven’t pulled the trigger to try one, I say: What do you have to lose? They come in a million and one varieties across many brands from well-known Crystal Light’s fruity flavors to Great Value (they even have a sweet tea bundle!).

      Depending on what’s important to you and your lifestyle, they contain vitamins and minerals, come in sugar-free varieties, have low-carb and no-carb options, and some are even vegan or keto-friendly. I personally like the ones with no artificial sweeteners and a dash of caffeine, perfect for those sleepy afternoons. Here’s a good powder value bundle for energy.

      Need an energy boost? Try MiO!

      

      MiO brand is one of my go-to’s if I’m looking for B vitamins and caffeine – aka, an energy boost.  I like their Acai Berry Storm, Orange Tangerine, and Pineapple Strawberry Smash, but if you like iced coffee, try their Iced Vanilla Java or Mocha Java. (Hard to believe it’s still just water, right?) They also have varieties with electrolytes you can take with you on a hike or excursion.

      Buy individual flavors here.

      Buy in bulk here.

      Give me something truly all-natural and family-owned? Try Stur!

      If all-natural is more your vibe (get out of my drink, aspartame and artificial coloring!), a new brand I just found and adore is called Stur. It’s a little pricier than other varieties, but if your health matters to you, you do get what you pay for. Stur contains simple ingredients you know: Natural Fruit Flavor Extracts, Natural Stevia Extract, Natural Citric Acid, Vitamin C, white grape juice and Fruit and Vegetable Juice. Plus it’s available in bulk here if you want to save.

      They even have a “Skinny” variety for hunger control, which contain fiber. See them on Amazon.

      

       

      I used to use the powder forms, but for convenience, I now carry a bottle of the liquid around in my purse and work bag so I can squirt a blast of excitement in my water bottle every time I fill up. It really is the small things that make us happy, isn’t it?

      

   4. None of these cutting it for you? Try sparkling or seltzer water (also known as club soda) to add the ultimate fancy feeling: wonderful bubbly effervescent carbonation.

      I’ll admit… if you’ve never tried additive-free, all-natural sparkling or seltzer water, you may have an adjustment period to get used to the taste. I’ll never forget the first time I gave a Bubbly in a can to my mom to try. She’s always been a bottled Clear American sparkling water gal, which is essentially aspartame-infused sweet carbonated water. Her initial reaction? “OH YUCK,” complete with a twisted face. It was hilarious actually.At first, these seltzer-style, natural carbonated waters may taste bland. But once your palate adjusts, you’ll soon appreciate them for their simple, refreshing, and light flavor that puts pep in your step.

      They are an especially great alternative if you’re trying to quit pop or soda. Luke and I are utterly and hopelessly hooked now, and we often enjoy one after dinner while watching TV before bed. Why? They feel like a treat, all with 0 calories and 0 additives. We started with the Queen of Fancy, La Croix, and their 20+ flavors using every fruit under the sun, but we soon needed a more budget-friendly alternative. Our new low-to mid-priced go-to’s include:

      • Generic brands from stores like Walmart and Meijer
      • Waterloo: Texas-sized flavor hailing from Austin (look for the Wild West font on the can)
      • AHA: adorably referencing that “aha” moment with creative flavor combinations you can’t find elsewhere (think Black Cherry + Coffee, Blueberry + Pomegranate, or Apple + Ginger)
      • Bubly: a millennial-focused, positivity brand with 15+ flavors, which feature bright cans with fun, uplifting messages. Even the tabs talk to you (aloha, ayyy, sup, hi u!), which is strangely intimate for a canned beverage. I mean, it’s hard to have a bad day when the logo itself smiles at you!Bubbly is our favorite. They boast the strongest and most pleasant flavors, all of which we adore. A cute motto doesn’t hurt: No calories. No sweeteners. All smiles.Even better is the fact that Amazon often runs sales on Bubly!

1. If all else fails, a beautiful bottle to drink your water can do wonders. Just make sure it’s BPA-free or glass.

   Skeptics or penny pinchers might roll their eyes here, but give it a chance. We want to touch things we find beautiful. If you are drawn to the artistic design, color, shape, materials, or texture of your drinking bottle, you’ll be more likely to actually use it! Rocket science, right?This is why iPhones sell like hotcakes, why certain colored clothes sell more quickly than others, and why we take better care of our nicer belongings in life. Chances are, the more you appreciate it, the better you’ll care for it (aka, won’t leave it dirty in the sink and have to forgo drinking water that day) and the more use you’ll get out of it.

   Spending money on something = finding ways to justify how to “get your money out of it.”

 

Do you have any tips for ways to drink more water? What are your favorite flavors, enhancers, brands, etc? We love getting new recommendations and are always on the hunt for better products! Let’s all help each other live healthier lives.