Australia may be a nation of coffee drinkers and fitness fanatics, but when it comes to drinking enough water, most of us are falling short. New research commissioned by BRITA, global leaders in water filtration solutions, has revealed Australia is a nation of thirsty minds, with most of us failing to drink enough water each day, leaving our brains running sub optimally.
Dr Gina Cleo, Habits Change Expert and Director of the Habit Change Institute, says this is a classic case of the knowing-doing gap. Australians understand hydration is important, however, the average Aussie consumes just 1.4 litres of water a day – far below what most believe is required.
With four in five Australians (79%) admitting they don’t drink enough water during the day, most often because they simply forget (41%) or feel too busy (29%), Dr Gina is here to challenge the status quo and help Aussies stay accountable, bringing together science and real-life strategies to help people build habits that last.
Dr Gina Cleo explained: “Australians understand hydration is important, in fact, one of the most common habits people tell me they want to build is drinking more water. To close that gap, we need simple, repeatable habits that make hydration consistent. Our brains thrive on routine, so linking drinking water to existing routines makes it feel simple and natural.”
“Lasting change isn’t about willpower, it’s about the small, repeatable choices we make each day. By focusing on practical, easy-to-implement habits, like drinking more water, taking mindful pauses, or setting up your environment for success, we can improve our health in ways that feel natural, sustainable and achievable.”
The drop in hydration has a real impact on Aussies’ quality of life. Even a one to two percent decrease in body water can impair cognitive function, increase fatigue, and make it harder to regulate emotions. Concentration suffers, general daily functioning declines, and stress becomes harder to manage. Creativity and problem solving can decline too, which explains why dehydration can make you feel foggy or irritable.
To build your hydration habits, Dr Gina Cleo recommends:
Starting your day with a glass of water: Keep a glass or bottle of filtered water by your bedside so it’s the first thing you reach for when you wake up. Overnight, your body loses fluids through breathing and repair processes, so rehydrating first thing helps wake you up, kick-start digestion, and support regular bowel movements.
Keep water within reach: From the moment you wake up to when you go to bed, keep a glass of filtered water nearby (or a bottle if you’re on the go). Having water constantly by your side helps you drink more regularly and acts as a visual reminder throughout the day. Over time, reaching for water becomes an effortless habit that keeps you consistently hydrated.
Pair water with daily routines and breaks: Habits stick best when they’re stacked and tied to something you already do. Pair water with existing routines, for example, have a glass after brushing your teeth, alongside every meal, or before checking emails. You can also sip before stretching or taking short breaks. Pairing hydration with existing routines helps make drinking water automatic, while small pauses improve focus and reduce mental fatigue.
Make hydration enjoyable: Drinking water doesn’t have to feel like a chore. Using BRITA filtered water can improve taste and removes unwanted substances like chlorine, heavy metals, pesticides, and even microplastic, leaving you with cleaner, safer water. You can also infuse your water with natural flavours – try lemon, cucumber, mint, or berries for a refreshing twist. Experimenting with different combinations makes drinking water something to look forward to.
As Australians continue to juggle busy schedules and competing demands, staying hydrated is a simple way to boost focus, manage stress and support daily performance. Just as mindfulness encourages us to pause, breathe, and check in with ourselves, hydration offers a similar reset, a small, intentional act with a ripple effect on the mind and body. By making hydration a habit, Australians can transform an everyday necessity into a powerful well-being ritual for clarity, calm, and productivity.
To discover your Hydration Personality, learn how thirsty your brain really is, and take the first step toward better hydration habits, visit brita.com.au/hydrationquotient and complete the Hydration Quotient Quiz!
Australia may be a nation of coffee drinkers and fitness fanatics, but when it comes to drinking enough water, most of us are falling short. New research commissioned by BRITA, global leaders in water filtration solutions, has revealed Australia is a nation of thirsty minds, with most of us failing to drink enough water each day, leaving our brains running sub optimally.
Dr Gina Cleo, Habits Change Expert and Director of the Habit Change Institute, says this is a classic case of the knowing-doing gap. Australians understand hydration is important, however, the average Aussie consumes just 1.4 litres of water a day – far below what most believe is required.
With four in five Australians (79%) admitting they don’t drink enough water during the day, most often because they simply forget (41%) or feel too busy (29%), Dr Gina is here to challenge the status quo and help Aussies stay accountable, bringing together science and real-life strategies to help people build habits that last.
Dr Gina Cleo explained: “Australians understand hydration is important, in fact, one of the most common habits people tell me they want to build is drinking more water. To close that gap, we need simple, repeatable habits that make hydration consistent. Our brains thrive on routine, so linking drinking water to existing routines makes it feel simple and natural.”
“Lasting change isn’t about willpower, it’s about the small, repeatable choices we make each day. By focusing on practical, easy-to-implement habits, like drinking more water, taking mindful pauses, or setting up your environment for success, we can improve our health in ways that feel natural, sustainable and achievable.”
The drop in hydration has a real impact on Aussies’ quality of life. Even a one to two percent decrease in body water can impair cognitive function, increase fatigue, and make it harder to regulate emotions. Concentration suffers, general daily functioning declines, and stress becomes harder to manage. Creativity and problem solving can decline too, which explains why dehydration can make you feel foggy or irritable.
To build your hydration habits, Dr Gina Cleo recommends:
As Australians continue to juggle busy schedules and competing demands, staying hydrated is a simple way to boost focus, manage stress and support daily performance. Just as mindfulness encourages us to pause, breathe, and check in with ourselves, hydration offers a similar reset, a small, intentional act with a ripple effect on the mind and body. By making hydration a habit, Australians can transform an everyday necessity into a powerful well-being ritual for clarity, calm, and productivity.
To discover your Hydration Personality, learn how thirsty your brain really is, and take the first step toward better hydration habits, visit brita.com.au/hydrationquotient and complete the Hydration Quotient Quiz!
Share this:
Like this: