My May 2025 Challenge: How I Finally Drank More Water — Without Even Thinking About It

What I Thought Would Be a Struggle… Wasn’t

Jun 02, 2025

Hi, it’s Diana again from Healthy Seniors—can you believe we’re already in June?
This year is flying by, and I love the rhythm of setting one small wellness goal each month. After reconnecting with my body through stretching in April, I wanted to shift gears and try something simple but foundational in May: hydration.

I wasn’t expecting any major revelations. After all, drinking water sounds basic, right? But let me tell you—this month surprised me. In a good way.

Quick Recap: January Through April

Here’s what the year has looked like so far:

January: Walking 10,000 steps a day — ambitious and energizing (still trying to stay consistent!)
February: Meal planning to keep healthy eating easy and stress-free
March: Daily gratitude journaling, which helped shift my mindset in beautiful ways
April: 15 minutes of stretching and gentle movement, which made my body feel amazing

Each challenge has added a little something to my daily routine—and May’s focus on hydration fit perfectly into that growing foundation.

May Challenge: 64 Ounces of Water Daily (aka “The Bottle Changed Everything”)

Week 1: Starting Fancy

I started May with what I thought was a solid plan. I bought lemons, limes, and even a sprig of mint (very optimistic of me). I brewed a couple herbal teas, looked up recipes for cucumber water, and lined up some fun Pinterest-worthy infusions.

And for the first few days, I felt pretty proud of myself. I’d sip a glass of lemon water in the morning and wind down with some chamomile tea at night.

But... I wasn’t actually drinking much water.

Turns out, as nice as those drinks were, they weren’t helping me build a habit. They required too many steps: slice the fruit, boil the water, clean the pitcher. I was treating hydration like a spa treatment instead of a basic need—and that made it hard to keep up.

Week 2: Enter the MVP: My Water Bottle

In week two, I got fed up and grabbed the plain old water bottle I usually only use when I exercise. I filled it up and left it on the kitchen counter.

And then something interesting happened: I started sipping without realizing. I’d walk by, see it, and take a drink. No planning, no prep—just easy. So I took it a step further and started bringing it everywhere: to the living room, to my desk, into the car, even on short walks.

Before I knew it, it was just there—like a loyal sidekick. And because it was with me, I drank. A lot. Consistently. Effortlessly.

And yes, I’ve officially become “that person” who takes their water bottle everywhere. Honestly? No regrets.

The bottle that comes with me everywhere

Week 3: Noticing Subtle Changes

By week three, I was easily drinking 64 ounces or more each day, and I started to feel it.

Fewer headaches, especially in the afternoon
Less fatigue, even on days when I didn’t sleep great
Fewer snack cravings between meals
My skin looked a little more hydrated (I swear!)
And my digestion? Let’s just say... things were moving along better

None of it was dramatic, but these little shifts added up. I felt just a little more balanced—and all from something so simple.

Week 4: Hydration on Autopilot

By the end of the month, I didn’t even think about it anymore. I filled my bottle in the morning, kept it by my side, and sipped throughout the day. It didn’t require willpower, reminders, or even much effort.

That’s the real magic of this challenge—it turned something I used to struggle with into a background habit. One that supports everything else I do, without taking up extra energy.

What Worked:

✅ Keeping it ridiculously simple — No tracking apps or complex hydration plans. Just water. In a bottle. Next to me.
✅ Making it visual — Seeing the bottle reminded me to drink. Out of sight = out of mind, but in sight? I sipped constantly.
✅ Letting go of perfection — Some days I hit 80 ounces, other days maybe 50. But I stayed hydrated overall, and that’s what matters.
✅ Listening to my body — I drank more when I was thirsty, and less when I wasn’t, instead of forcing a rigid routine.

What Didn’t Work:

❌ Overcomplicating things early on — Fancy drinks and infusions were fun, but too high-maintenance for real-life consistency.
❌ Trying to “optimize” the habit instead of just doing it — I wasted time researching hydration hacks when the solution was already in my cabinet.
❌ Forgetting my bottle when leaving the house — On the rare days I didn’t bring it, I barely drank at all. That bottle is a non-negotiable now.
❌ Assuming I’d need reminders — Turns out, once the bottle was around, my body knew exactly what to do.

One More Thing: I’m Actually Really Proud of Myself

These monthly challenges might not seem like a big deal on the surface—they're short, simple, and doable—but they’ve made a real difference in my life. Bit by bit, I’m feeling more energized, more in tune with myself, and just generally better.

And to be honest? The fact that I knew I’d be writing about it each month kept me going. This little monthly check-in has become a quiet form of accountability, and it’s helped me stay consistent even on the days I felt like skipping it. Writing it all down has helped me see the progress, and that’s been just as motivating as the changes themselves.

What’s Next?

This month, I’m switching gears again—this time, focusing on the mind. My June Challenge is to meditate for just 10 minutes a day.

No apps (unless I want them). No pressure. Just 10 quiet minutes to pause, breathe, and clear my head. I’ll probably start with some basic guided meditations, maybe a little breathing work, and see where it goes.

After a few months of tuning in to my body, it feels like the right time to slow down mentally, too.

💧 Your Turn: Is There a Habit You’ve Been Overcomplicating?
Sometimes the key isn’t to “try harder”—it’s to make the habit easier. If hydration (or anything else) feels like a struggle, maybe it’s not you. Maybe it’s just the setup.

Put the thing where you’ll see it. Remove the extra steps. Keep it simple.

I’d love to hear what you’re working on—or what one tiny change helped something finally click. We’re halfway through the year, and this little community of wellness-seekers is one of my favorite things.

Healthy Seniors