7 Simple Ways to Drink More Water Every Day

How much is enough?

Needs vary with your body, the weather, what you eat and how active you are. UK guidance generally suggests around six to eight drinks a day, which includes water, milk, tea and coffee. Food contributes too.

A practical check is simple: if you are rarely thirsty and your urine is pale straw-coloured, you are probably doing fine. If you have a medical condition that affects fluid intake, follow the advice of your healthcare professional.

Seven things that actually work

• Keep a filled bottle or glass within arm's reach of where you sit.
• Drink a glass when you wake up, before anything else.
• Have a glass with every meal — three meals means three glasses without thinking.
• Attach drinking to an existing trigger: every time you make tea, fill your bottle too.
• Add flavour with lemon, cucumber, mint or berries if plain water bores you.
• Choose a bottle you actually like carrying; the right one gets used.
• Log it for a week so you can see your real pattern instead of guessing.

Drinks that count

Water is the simplest option, but milk, sugar-free squash, herbal teas, and yes, tea and coffee in normal amounts all contribute to your fluid intake. Sugary drinks are best kept occasional, mainly for your teeth and overall diet quality.

When you need a bit more

Hot weather, exercise, a long journey, illness or air travel all increase what you need. Plan ahead on those days rather than catching up afterwards.

Make it visible

Tracking hydration for even a week tends to be revealing. In AttivaGo you can add a glass in one tap and see your day at a glance, which turns a vague intention into a visible habit.