By Tracey Bailey, Biome founder
On New Year's Day, some friends and I set our “25 for 25” list—25 things I would love to do this year. Smallish things that are achievable actions towards some bigger life outcomes! One of those goals? To drink one litre of water every day.
Rather than aim for the roughly two litres recommended for a semi-active person of my age, I thought, “Keep it achievable, Tracey. Just one litre a day.” Easy, right? But here I am, weeks into the new year, still struggling to hit that target—even though I’ve been running a store that sells reusable water bottles and water filters for 20 years!
It got me thinking: What is stopping me from drinking water? If someone who is surrounded by tools to stay hydrated finds it challenging, I know I’m not alone. So, in this post I delve into common reasons for not drinking enough water and hopefully identify some practical ways for me, and you, to overcome them.
1. Water Can Feel... Boring
One of the most common complaints is that water lacks flavour. Compared to the excitement of fizzy drinks, tea, coffee and juices, plain water can feel underwhelming. If your taste buds are craving something more exciting, it’s easy to skip water altogether.
Solution: Add natural flavour. Infuse your water with fruits like lemon, berries, fresh mint or cucumber, or try herbal teas (hot or cold) for a refreshing twist. I personally love icy cold Hibiscus tea.
Sparkling water can also offer the fizz without the sugar - especially if you add in fresh lemon or natural syrup. A sparkling water maker like Monten or Sodastream gives you bubbles at home without single use plastic bottles and costs a lot less too.
2. You Forget About It!
Life is busy, and drinking enough water isn’t always top of mind. Whether you’re sitting at your desk, in meetings, running errands, chasing kids, or immersed in a good book, hours can pass before you realise you haven’t had a sip.
Solution: Visibility and accessibility are key!
Keep a water bottle on your desk, or anywhere that you regularly sit or stand.
Place glasses of water or a water filter jug around the house - by your bedside, in the lounge on your coffee table, and of course on the kitchen bench.
Always take a glass of water or bottle into a meeting.
Stick a reminder note on your fridge.
Set reminders on your phone to nudge you throughout the day. Using reminders on my phone was another of my "25 for 25", so that ticks off two!
3. You Don’t Like the Taste of Tap Water
This is a big turn off for me! While I feel grateful for the privilege of being able to turn on the tap and receive safe, treated drinking water, I do not enjoy the taste of Brisbane's chlorine-heavy tap water. In other places, tap water tastes metallic, musty, or just “off.” If you’re not a fan of what’s coming out of the tap, it’s no wonder you’re not reaching for it.
I also find that my stomach is sensitive to changes in drinking water when I visit new places.
Solutions:
Invest in a water filter that improves taste and removes unwanted contaminants. There are many kinds to choose from:
- a water filter jug
- reusable water filter bottle or straw - great for hydration on the go
- filter attachment on your tap
- bench top gravity water purifier made from ceramic or stainless steel
Then there are different types of filtration from the basic stick of activated charcoal that you simply drop in your bottle, to ceramic and carbon-core that removes most impurities, chlorine and heavy metals, to a 10 stage AceBIO+ that also remineralises, ionises, adjusts the pH and magnetises!
ECO BONUS: no more excuses to grab disposable plastic bottled water, which is better for the planet!
Tappwater Screw on tap water filter - no tools required.
4. You Don’t Feel Thirsty
It's pretty common to wait until we feel thirsty to drink water, but thirst is often a sign that you’re already dehydrated. Plus, if you’re sipping on other beverages like coffee or soft drinks, your body might not signal for water as strongly.
Solution:
Sip regularly throughout the day, even if you’re not thirsty.
Start your morning with a glass of water, and pair drinking with daily routines like cleaning your teeth, preparing meals, or workouts to build a consistent habit.
Follow every cup of coffee, tea and alcoholic drink with a glass of water.
5. You’re Always on the Move
If your schedule is packed, stopping to drink water just doesn't happen, or you've likely left your bottle in the last place you were. Carrying a water bottle is just one more thing to keep track of.
Solution:
Get a reusable bottle that suits your lifestyle: lightweight, insulated, carry handle, easy to clean, and fits in your bag or car cup holder.
Each night set up your "reusables on the go" kit for the next day: water bottle, Keepcup, cutlery, all in an easy to grab reusable shopping bag.
Ask your workplace to install a tap water filter.
Sit an easy to reach for water filter jug, or even a simple glass jug with an activated charcoal stick, on your desk and kitchen bench.
Lifestraw water filter bottles and straws for hydration on the go.
6. You Don’t See Immediate Results
Unlike caffeine, which provides an instant energy boost, drinking water doesn’t always offer quick, noticeable effects.
The benefits of hydration—better digestion, clearer skin, fewer headaches—can take time to show up.
Conversely, the signs of not drinking enough water can show up very quickly! Dry, dull skin, chapped lips, dark-coloured wee, low energy and dizziness, dry mouth and bad breath, hunger or cravings, nausea, muscle cramps, dry or sunken eyes, infrequent wees (fewer than 4-6 times a day).
Solution:
Shift your mindset. Instead of looking for immediate results, look out for the symptoms that you are not drinking enough water and think about solving one of those - just like the 25 for 25, focus on the building blocks that lead to the outcome.
7. You Worry About Frequent Bathroom Breaks
For some, drinking more water feels like a ticket to endless bathroom trips, which can be inconvenient, especially at work or during long commutes.
Solution:
Your body adjusts over time! Start slowly and spread your water intake throughout the day. You’ll find a balance that works without feeling like you’re constantly running to the loo.
Forming a Habit is The Key
Even for someone like me who has the fortune of treated water on tap and access to the best tools drinking two litres of water a day isn’t always easy.
Forming a habit is the key. It’s not about hitting your water goal every single day for 365 days straight—it’s about building simple, consistent actions into your routine that eventually lead to success.
Start small and focus on those easy wins, like having a glass of water in the morning or keeping a water filter jug on your desk. Over time, these little steps will snowball into a daily habit, and before you know it, staying hydrated will feel effortless.
So, as I recommit to my goal of drinking one litre of water a day, I invite you to join me. Troubleshoot the barriers, entrench the habit, and find joy in every sip!
MORE READING:
