5 tips for drinking more water from someone who drinks a gallon of it every day

• I drink a gallon of water each day, which is even more than some experts suggest.
• You can download apps to keep you on track or try flavoring your water with fruits and vegetables.
• Carrying a water bottle around will ensure that you always have water.

The advice for how much water you should be drinking a day varies depending on who you ask.

Experts told Insider you should just drink when you're thirsty, others swear by at least eight cups of water a day, and some have complex ways of figuring out the recommended dose. No matter your metric, many of us aren't getting enough water, period.

But staying hydrated doesn't have to be a chore - I drink a gallon of water each day with just a few tweaks to my daily routine.

Here are my tips for upping your H2O intake.

Drink 16 ounces of water just after waking up

This is a tactic that I totally swear by.

When you wake up in the morning, you're probably slightly dehydrated and feeling a bit sluggish. Drinking two cups of water gets your body going, can make you feel more awake, and can also help decrease appetite.

Even better, drinking two cups of water in the morning gets you a good head start on your hydration goals - you're already a quarter of the way through your suggested eight cups a day before you even get started.

Have a glass of water before eating a meal

As mentioned before, drinking water can help decrease appetite.

If you're not trying to lose weight, you may think this doesn't matter for you, but we've all been guilty of overeating simply because food is there and we can, resulting in a stomachache.

I've found that having a glass of water before I sit down for a meal helps me avoid this. I'm able to sense when I feel full more easily and I don't overeat nearly as much.

Given that your body can misinterpret thirst as hunger, this is a good rule to follow.

Invest in a reusable bottle to keep in your bag while out and about

It doesn't have to be anything fancy or ultra-expensive, but grabbing a reusable bottle to keep with you when you're headed out to the gym, work, or even just walking around your city is a great idea.

Not only will it save you money and be more environmentally friendly than picking up disposable plastic bottles of water, but also you'll be more likely to stay well-hydrated if you have water at the ready in your bag.

I take my bottle, which is lightweight and holds 17 ounces (just over half a liter) of liquid, with me wherever I go.

I'm often able to find water fountains or even restaurants or coffee shops that are happy to refill it for me if I'm making other purchases, and it ensures I continue to stay hydrated throughout the day.

If plain water is too bland, mix it up with fruits, veggies, or tea bags

While I don't understand those who claim that water doesn't taste good - there's not much that's more refreshing than a cold glass of ice water on a hot day to me - I know that there are many people who are chronically dehydrated for this very reason.

If this is you, you can still find ways to stay hydrated. You can try infusing some of your favorite fruits and vegetables into water or brewing some tea - just avoid adding loads of milk and sugar, which kinda defeats the purpose.

Download an app to help you track how much water you drink

If you're bad at keeping track of how much you're drinking throughout the day and you're someone who thrives on rewards, however inconsequential, then try downloading a water-tracking app.

When I wasn't quite so well-hydrated, I preferred Plant Nanny, which lets you grow a digital collection of cute flowers and cacti as you drink water.

There are plenty of free ones that are easy to use and also a lot of fun.