The Apple Watch is an excellent wellness device, but sometimes it can be a little embarrassing to adhere to health goals; Apple Watch users will know exactly what I mean.

Fortunately, with some excellent Apple Watch apps, there are ways to take over the reins from Apple's native programs and somewhat passive-aggressive push notifications. I have found a third-party app in particular that has improved my health care relationship with my Apple Watch 6. My skin is glowing too.

No, seriously. I always assumed I was hydrated enough to get through my workouts and daily activities without wrinkles and headaches, but thanks to an app called Water Reminder, I learned that I may need more water than I thought.

Available on any Apple Watch model, Water Reminder is an app that everyone should use. You can already track your water intake with the Apple Health app, but for reasons I don't understand, there is no Apple Watch version of the health dashboard.

However, hydration is a very important health indicator, and 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. In the UK, 345 non-covid 19 patients in hospitals and nursing homes died of dehydration during the initial lockdown. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 173 of the patients who died were under the age of 65, but the rate of hospitalization for dehydration remains highest among adults over 65.

While the consequences of dehydration are not always so severe, there is plenty of evidence that it is better to stay well hydrated.

I have found it much easier and less intrusive to record what I drink on my wrist rather than from my iPhone, whether I am sitting in a restaurant or finishing a meal at the gym.

Here's how it works: First, you need to download Water Reminder to either your iPhone or Apple Watch. Then you are prompted to set it up. The app allows users to choose whether they want to sync their age, weight, and height information with Apple Health or enter it manually. You will also be prompted to enter your activity level, climate, and personal goals.

Water Reminder presents a recommended daily water intake based on these factors. Mine is 100 ounces, but the app doesn't expect me to remember that I should drink just under a gallon of water each day.

The app sends me notifications when I haven't logged a drink recently. For an objective look at hydration levels, Water Reminder also keeps track of ounces of coffee, tea, milk, juice, and soda. For other types of beverages, you must subscribe to the paid version of Water Reminder, which costs $3.99 per month or $35.99 per year.

I found that the free version works just fine. In fact, it's a great feature, given that it's gamified in a similar way to closing the activity ring, which has led me to drink more water.

While it's obviously hard to single-handedly credit Water Reminder with improving my mood, there's no doubt that I have fewer breakouts, longer workouts, and no longer wake up thirsty and sore, using the Apple Watch app to track my water intake, may seem like a small habit, but it could have major health benefits.

For more Apple Watch tips and tricks, see our guide to using the Apple Watch. Also, stay tuned for updates on watchOS 8 and Apple Watch 7. Apple's software update and the launch of the new watches are just a few months away.