Shecky’s

Control calories, keep your energy level up and look younger — while it’s not a magic cure-all, wet, wet water has dozens of benefits (check out this post from WebMD). You don’t necessarily need eight glasses every day, but really, you’re probably not drinking enough. We get it — in the afternoon, the lure of that cherry vanilla soda is what our sugar-deprived stomach craves. Finding spare time for some much-needed time catching up on Downton Abbey usually puts us into a wine-drinking mood.  But really, you can trick yourself into drinking more (water). Check it out. - Natalie Brown

Every night fill up a bottle and stick it in your bag.

Whether you carry a tote, a backpack, or a briefcase, there’s bound to be room for a bottle of water (if there isn’t, just put it on the table next to your bag). I’m in love with this Brita Bottle Water Filtration System ($8.99 at drugstore.com), which I take everywhere without worrying about how the tap water tastes. Filling up your bottle the night before means you’ll have plenty of liquid to sip on your way to work, and putting it with your bag will help you remember to grab it on your way out the door. Just don’t forget to pull it out of your bag once you get to work!

Coffee drinkers, read this.

We won’t tell you to give it up (actually, coffee’s quite good for you, and we  need our cup in the morning), but since you’re already in the habit…pour yourself a glass of water, and make yourself drink it before you take your first sip of caffeine. Do this every time you’re about to have a cup, even if it’s in the middle of the afternoon. Ta-da! Now you’ve had as much water as you’ve had coffee. Just make sure there’s a bathroom nearby.

It doesn’t matter if you cook or order online.

While you’re waiting for your delivery guy to ring your doorbell or for your soup to come to a boil, drink a glass of water. Just one, that’s all we’re asking. It can help you eat less by taking up space in your stomach.

Get pretty glasses.

Really. This may not be your cup of tea, but if you’ve gotta drink water, why not do it in style? Half of the fun of champagne is those elegant flutes. You can get a special, single glass and it can be your Water Glass. We’re partial to this pretty blue Opalescent Tumbler ($12 at anthropologie.com).

Go for hot and steamy.

Sometimes the heat in our apartment doesn’t work so well, which means we cannot even fathom the idea of drinking anything cold.  Try warming it up! You don’t have to infuse it with tea or anything, just stick some water in the microwave for 45 seconds. We like to flavor ours with a little honey and lemon. But fresh lemon, because we can’t stand the taste of bottled lemon juice.

Set a goal and make it a competition.

Download a goal-tracking app, like 42goals (they have a free version), or make your own system for reminding yourself to drink a glass however often you think you want to have one. Not enough motivation? Spice it up with a competition — with your co-worker sitting across from you or with one of your besties via text message. Make a little Google spreadsheet and share it with each other, logging each time you finish a glass.