With such busy lives and so many distractions, it can be hard to keep track of healthy habits. For those looking to kickstart their healthy journey, increasing the amount of water you drink daily is a great way to begin.
Our bodies are made up of around 60% water. Water is vital to our survival and well-being; it carries nutrients to our cells, helps to flush out toxins, and regulates our temperature. Therefore, drinking enough water daily is essential to keep these (and many other) functions working optimally.
How much water should I drink a day?
Recommendations vary somewhat, but the consensus is to drink around eight glasses of water per day.
Lindsay McLain, VP of Marketing at JUST Water, says, “As a general rule of thumb, we should drink a minimum of half our weight in ounces to stay hydrated. And now we have no excuse not to because there are so many great water options, including mineral-rich spring-sourced water, zero-calorie flavor-infused water, and carbonated water beverages to help keep your intake level in a healthy zone.”
To help you stay on top of your water consumption, here are the ten apps you can use to track it.
1. Google Play Water Drink Reminder
Google Play Water Drink Reminder is an app that reminds you to drink enough water every day to maintain good hydration. By entering your current weight, the app calculates the right amount your body needs each day; all you have to do is update the app each time to drink a glass of water, and the app will remind you when it’s next time to drink some more.
Price: Free.
2. Daily Water Tracker Reminder
With the Daily Water Tracker Reminder app, you can set a goal amount for your daily water intake, then log your intake in ounces or milliliters as you drink. You can also view statistical updates for how you’re tracking each day or over the last week or month to see your progress.
Price: Free.
3. WaterMinder
WaterMinder is a user-friendly app for calculating hydration goals based on weight and personal preferences. From there, you will receive regular daily reminders to drink more, and you can log in and view your progress easily in-app.
Price: $4.99 on iPhone; free with in-app purchases on Android.
4. Hydro Coach
Hydro Coach allows you to set your target or helps to calculate an appropriate goal and reminds you when it’s time to get drinking. It can also be customized for use by those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Price: Free with in-app purchases.
5. Water Drink Reminder
The Water Drink Reminder app will calculate how much water you need daily and will send you reminders when it’s time to top up – all you need to do is log your water consumption as you go. With this app, you can also set start and finish times each day and view graphs of your progress.
Price: Free with in-app purchases.
6. iHydrate
iHydrate takes tracking water intake a step further by calculating the water percentage you consume via different beverage types. You can log in drinking coffee, tea, juice, milk, and even alcoholic drinks like beer. The app will then break down your daily fluid consumption and total water intake and track your progress for easy viewing.
Price: $2.99 with in-app purchases.
7. My Water & Drink Reminder
My Water & Drink Reminder can help you calculate the amount of water you should be drinking each day, send you regular notifications to drink, and provide you with progress tracking visuals. This app has also incorporated some gamification to propel you by adding bonus rewards when you reach your goals.
Price: Free with in-app purchases.
8. Aqualert: Water Tracker Daily
Aqualert keeps the notifications coming throughout the day to help keep you hydrated and takes your activity level into account when calculating your daily hydration requirements. An easy-to-read graphic is handy for tracking your progress, and the app has a bedtime mode to prevent you from being notified during the night.
Price: Free.
9. My Water: Daily Water Tracker
My Water is a daily water tracker that allows you to log other fluid intakes besides water and to set reminders that fit in with your daily schedule. The app will calculate your optimal hydration goals in line with the health information you enter.
Price: Free with in-app purchases.
10. Eight Glasses a Day
Eight Glasses a Day is a simple water intake tracking app to help you monitor your daily intake. Simply tapping a glass icon on your smartphone screen, the glass will empty, acknowledging that you have consumed another glass. The app also sends you extra hydration tips to keep you motivated.
Price: Free with in-app purchases.
Summing up
Staying well-hydrated is vital for our general health and well-being, helping boost our cognitive function and much more. These apps are a great way to keep us on track — as much as we may tell ourselves we don’t need any assistance, we already have too much to remember as it is.
