I'm Useless at Drinking Water, So I Employed a "Smart Bottle" to Help

There's a running joke among beauty editors that we can't count on anything in this world except this: When we ask an influencer or celebrity for their top wellness tip, they will always advise to "drink more water". It's an annoyingly generic answer when you're looking to craft a compelling profile on said notable person, but it also speaks to the fact that staying hydrated really is the simplest thing you can do to feel your best.

I am not as terrible at drinking water as I used to be, but I wouldn't exactly give myself an A-plus for my hydration habits either. Too often, I'll start the day strong before succumbing to my coffee habit, only to go to bed feeling parched and bloated. Consistency is not my strong point. So when I first learned about Equa, a "smart" water bottle that uses Bluetooth technology to help you meet your daily hydration goals, I immediately reached out to the company to give it a try—even though it's not technically available for purchase yet. (The product's incredibly popular Kickstarter ends next week, and the initial round of retail is slated for September.)

A few days later, a sleek pink bottle landed on my desk along with instructions to download its correlating app (which is still in beta testing). The app connects via Bluetooth with a disc that attaches to the bottom of the bottle. After inputting your stats (height, weight, and activity level), the app calculates your ideal daily water goal and provides a virtual timeline to ensure that you're keeping up. If you fall behind, the bottle glows to remind you to take a few sips.

The cool part is that you can actually see yourself making a dent in your goal in real time. Because the bottle sits on top of the disc, the app gives an accurate read of the weight at any given time—so each time you take a sip, you can see exactly how many fluid ounces you just drank (and the progress you've made in your timeline ring). If you refill the bottle, the app adjusts accordingly. It's seamless and incredibly simple.

Frankly, the novelty of it is enough for me to actually get excited about staying hydrated. It's like playing a game; whenever I notice that I'm not caught up in my progress ring, my competitive streak compels me to start chugging. Though the app still has some glitches (it is in testing mode, after all), after just two weeks with my Equa, my hydration levels have changed drastically for the better.

And fine, fine, celebs—I guess I see what all the fuss is about. I'm less bloated, my skin is bright and clear, and I've managed to cut back on coffee with virtually no headaches, which is unheard of. But sometimes even the simplest wellness practices remain elusive, which is why I have to give credit to the impressive new tool that isn't just making hydration easy but enjoyable. And as we know, that's the secret formula for building lasting habits.

Next up: A psychologist explains how to establish a good habit.