I can’t begin to tell you how important it is that we all drink water every single day. But then again, I probably don’t have to. We all know that drinking at least 64 ounces of water a day (that’s eight 8 oz. glasses a day) gives us more energy, protects our joints, clears our complexions, and promotes a healthy weight. And if you didn’t know…now you know.

What we all DON’T know is how to stay on top of our water consumption. It shouldn’t be that hard, right? We get thirsty, we drink water! But I think we all know that drinking those 64 oz. a day is easier said than done. If you’re aiming to drink more water daily but are struggling to get in those eight glasses, here are a few clever tips to trick yourself into getting the water your body needs.

1. Jog Your Memory

Sometimes, the brain needs a bit of mental stimulation to get us drinking. To keep on track with a little written reminder, try this fantastic trick.

First, get the proper size of water bottle(s). There are 64 oz. bottles out there, and if you want to invest in one, we highly suggest it. If you want two 32 oz. bottles instead, or three 21 oz. bottles (not sure if those exist…) – whatever works for you. Then mark the bottles with times, i.e. 9 a.m., 10 a.m., ect. That will let you know that by 10 a.m., you should have consumed that amount of water. If you haven’t? Time to drink.

2. Have a Glass First Thing

Start the day off right with a big glass of water. Tip: the night before, fill up a glass and put it on your bedside table. Then don’t let yourself get out of bed unless you’re had the whole darn thing. Drinking water first thing in the morning flushes out your system for the day and helps speed up your metabolism.

3. Use Your Phone

Since you’re attached to it, it might as well help you stay hydrated! Set alarms on your phone throughout the day to remind you to get drinking. If calendar notifications catch your attention more, set one for every day of the week.

4. Consume Water With Every Other Drink

If you’re chugging coffee throughout the morning or cocktails at night, make sure that you drink water in between every non-water drink. Even if it’s just a tiny cup! This will keep you hydrated even as you’re drinking dehydrating beverages (coffee and alcohol are extremely dehydrating).

5. Get Water When You Get Up

Every time you leave your desk or work station to go to the bathroom or talk to a co-worker, grab a glass of water before you head back to your seat. This will depend on how often you do get up – if you find yourself glued to your computer, make some time to take a break every now and again. Your hydration depends on it!

6. Tie Water Into Routines

Associating water with daily routines will therefore make water a daily routine. For instance, drinking water while you do your makeup (it IS amazing for your skin) or while you watch the news in the morning ingrains water into your brain. We are creatures of habit, after all.

7. Drink Before Each Meal

Depending on how much water you want to drink a day, this again will vary. Lauren Conrad mentions on her blog that she likes to drink 3 liters of water a day, so she makes sure she’s had 1 liter of water before each meal. This same idea can apply to 2 liters a day, just broken down a bit more! Plus, drinking water before a meal helps your food break down more easily and assists with digestion.

8. Invest in an Phone App

If you REALLY want to get committed to hydration, there are apps that can help you. Apps like Daily Water Free for iPhones and Hydrocoach for Androids will act as helpful daily reminders to keep you diligent about drinking water.

Bonus: This smart water bottle is UNREAL. It syncs up to a special app on your phone which can monitor how much water you’ve had throughout the day. And when you haven’t had enough to drink? The water bottle lights up to remind you. So. Fancy.

Do you have any clever tricks that keep you hydrated throughout the day? Share them in the comments section below.