A Potentially Life-Changing Hack For Drinking More Water
by Audie Metcalf
We like treats. It’s science. The human brain has reward systems. When it gets a treat, it produces the neurotransmitter, dopamine. Dopamine feels great.
So, although water can be gloriously quenching and treat-like after an intense workout, or at 3am after a salt-riddled Indian feast, we’re supposed to drink a lot of it each day, because it’s the key to digestion, longevity, youth, life. It’s recommended that we use this exact formula to halve our body weight, convert that to ounces, and that should be our daily intake of water.
Drinking half a gallon of water, though, turns out to be a taxing, annoying, endless, non-treat chore.
So, I hacked it.
I noticed my extreme, giddy, childlike delight when drinking from a cup that is otherwise associated with a fun treat from the outside world, so after I finished my unsweetened green tea with a splash of lemonade, I brought that cup home. Like a talisman of outside-world treat-joy.
I filled it up with my own ice and water from the fridge and noticed by the end of that day, I had consumed almost 5 Venti-sized cups of water. I will say that I live in Southern California and the temp has been hovering around a balmy 105 most days so general thirst was driving a lot of my desire.
But regardless of heat, I’ve noticed that with this water hack, I effortlessly consume the recommended 2 liters. And then some.
The point is: the vessel is everything.
So, I looked past my 4, adorable but dusty Swell bottles with a considerable amount of guilt, and found the water hack that has unwaveringly gotten me to drink DOUBLE my recommended daily water allotment.
Here’s what I did:
1. I bought This Cup
I bought this 24 oz Starbucks reusable cold cup from Amazon (Amazon!). Bonus: Though designed to be your “home treat” cup, Starbucks gives a discount if you use this cup in stores.
Price: $23
2. I used These Reusable Straws
Yes yes, plastic straws are the devil. But, a fun straw (preferably reusable) is KEY to this hack. Silicone straws, pasta straws, and bamboo are all great replacements for plastic and paper (we can’t stand papery mush). I always bring a handful of reusable straws with me when I go out. To pass around. Like tampons.
Price: $10 for a 10-pack
3. I Gave In And Got This Viral Cup
And if you’re trying to make more sustainable choices, I also succumbed to the 4,798 ads of beautiful women with honey colored hair slurping out of a neutral-colored Stanley cup on TikTok.
Yes. I got the Stanley cup.
Listen, it’s a really great cup. Chuck a couple of ice cubes in there and they will still be rattling around, serving you frosty fresh water even after a full sleep cycle. The base is designed to fit in your car cup holder (or dog stroller but who’s counting), and there’s just something about the way the straw feels in your mouth that makes you want to suck on it all day long. And so you do. And then you realize you’ve filled it up no less than 7 times a day ,which is 30 oz times 7, which is 210 oz, which equals over a gallon and a half of water a day, and suddenly, you’re one of those girls who really knows how to hydrate, and then you start working out more and eating more kale, and you feel your identity change and all your choices are more mindful, and all of this is happening without even trying. All from a cup. From TikTok.
Price: $35
So, I will say that the only downside to drinking an avalanche of water throughout the day is the copious bathroom trips you’ll need to take. But on the extreme plus side, water aids in healthy digestion AND helps you to feel fuller without any calories. Remember that if you feel thirsty, it means you’re already dehydrated.
Pro tip: The metal straw debate is still going strong, and after a woman died from brain injuries after impaling herself with one, along with the very thoughtful discussion around mobility challenged people as well as children, we are firmly in the camp of no metal straws.
Audie Metcalf is the Editor-in-chief of The Candidly, and lives in LA with her family. You can find more of her articles here.
