My Hydration Experiment: What I Learned About Habits, Identity & What Really Works

At the beginning of this experiment, I set out with a simple intention: to drink more water.

I wasn’t trying to overhaul my entire routine or hit a perfect number every single day. I was curious about what it would look like to gently increase my water intake—to give my body more of what it was asking for—and to observe how that impacted my energy, recovery, and overall well-being.

What unfolded over a few weeks wasn’t just about water.
It became a practice in habit stacking, reducing friction, observing my patterns, and slowly adjusting the way I think about success.

What unfolded over a few weeks wasn’t just about water.
It became a practice in habit stacking, reducing friction, observing my patterns, and slowly adjusting the way I think about success.

What Actually Helped Me Drink More Water

📍 Habit Stacking:
Linking hydration to existing rhythms in my day (like before and after meetings) made it easier to remember. I wasn’t forcing myself to drink—I was simply noticing, and using natural breaks in my day as reminders.

👀 Visual Cues:
Carrying a 32 oz water bottle—at home and at work—was a game-changer. It kept hydration visible, accessible, and part of my environment. I didn’t have to rely on willpower alone.

🔄 Reducing Friction:
It’s a lot easier to drink water when the bottle is already filled and on your desk. When I used smaller bottles that needed frequent refills, I noticed how quickly I’d skip it if I got caught in back-to-back meetings. Making things easier helped me stay more consistent.

What Didn’t Work? Perfection.

If I’m honest, I didn’t reach my 100 oz goal every day. But I also stopped seeing that as a failure.

I realized that what I thought success looked like at the beginning—perfectly hitting the number—wasn’t actually the most important outcome.

What mattered more?

→ Becoming the kind of person who notices how hydrated (or dehydrated) they feel.
→ Tuning into how much better I feel when I’m well-hydrated.
→ Being willing to adjust my environment, rhythms, and mindset as I go.

Identity Shifts Are the Real Wins

What started as a habit experiment ended up gently reshaping how I see myself.
I’m no longer “someone who forgets to drink water.”
I’m someone who supports her energy. Who listens to her body.
Who makes space for sustainable change, one small shift at a time.

And to me, that is success.

Want Support With Your Habits?

If you’re working on creating better habits—whether that’s around food, energy, movement, or daily rhythms—I’d love to help.

My coaching is all about building sustainable habits that support your well-being and feel aligned with how you want to live.

✨ You can learn more about working with me here.