I’ve been told before that drinking water fixes everything, whether it’s getting rid of acne or boosting energy. It seems simple enough to hydrate myself, but my battle is drinking enough water daily.

Purified water is a resource that no one should take for granted. Over 40% of the world’s population doesn’t have access to clean water, according to a report by Canada’s Global Affairs. The report predicts 1.8 billion people living in different countries will face a water shortage by 2025.

I’m fortunate enough to have access to clean drinking water, but I know I’m not consuming it to its full potential.

I should be drinking about 11 cups per day. The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies revealed an adult woman should drink 2.7 liters of water daily, which is equivalent to 11 cups, and an adult man should drink 3.7 liters, or 15 cups, a day. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that American adults only drink around 1.18 liters, or 5 cups, a day.

My mentality is to drink water for balance and that’s not a good mindset to have.

I find myself drinking water the most after I feel awful eating a sugary cannoli. Also, my biggest hydration defeat is at 3 a.m. reaching over my nightstand for a generous gulp of water. I also like to think of myself as a “three-beverage girl” — a drink for hydration, a drink for caffeine and a drink for fun. I finish two out of three drinks every time and water is not one of them. If those are the only occasions I can recall drinking water, I have a hydration problem.

However, social media has influenced me for the better.

For the past year, I’ve been looking for a sign to get active and maintain a healthier diet. I can assure you nothing influences me more than the internet. On my TikTok “For You” page, I saw multiple creators hitting the gym and doing cardio. They were dressed in stylish athleisure wear and carried a water bottle.

I thought that if they can do it, I can do it too. I used to make up excuses on why I couldn’t be active, whether it was being too consumed with work or not being able to afford a membership, but I was only hurting myself.

My first step was to get a water bottle. As simple as it sounds, it was a complicated journey. It was almost as if I was shopping for a wedding dress without an engagement ring on my finger. I scoured the internet to compare prices and sizes. Of course, I wanted a bottle that was pretty, I’m the one that has to use it after all.

I came across water bottles that were over $50 and some with time stamps to ensure the consumer was drinking the correct amount of water per day. However, I knew I wouldn’t be able to stick to a schedule and I’d be racing to get the accurate time marker.

Once my hot pink water bottle was delivered to my home, there was no going back. I wasn’t going to waste $20 in an inflated economy. With the new year, I owe it to myself to be kinder to my body and support it with hydration. My current water bottle holds about six cups. It may not be the daily recommendation, but it’s a work in progress to becoming a better me.