Waltermelon
Fun water challenges, and how to run them
A good water challenge is short, specific and done with someone else. Here are 15 for friends, couples, teams and families, each with how to run it and, where it can, how Waltermelon tracks it for you. Every idea uses your own daily water goal, not one number for everyone. Pick one, set a finish line and tell someone.
The 7-day goal streak
Everyone hits their own daily water goal 7 days in a row.
- Length: 7 days
- People: 2+
- Free to start
How to start
Everyone hits their own daily water goal for 7 days in a row. The classic, and the easiest to start.
In Waltermelon: Start a Daily goal shared challenge for 7 days. Free to start and free to join.
The morning glass
First drink of water before 9 am, then your goal as usual.
- Length: Any length
- People: 1+
How to start
Have your first drink of water before 9 am, then reach your goal as usual. A full glass on the nightstand or by the kettle makes it easy to remember.
In Waltermelon: The Morning start challenge checks the 9 am part for you.
Two glasses, one pour
Whoever gets up first pours a glass of water for both of you.
- Length: 7 days
- People: 2
How to start
Whoever gets up first pours a glass of water for both of you. Keep it going for a week. More in our water challenge for couples.
In Waltermelon: Add each other as friends to see each other’s progress through the day.
The alcohol-free weekend
Hit your water goal and skip alcohol from Saturday morning to Sunday night.
- Length: Weekend
- People: 2+
How to start
Hit your water goal and skip alcohol from Saturday morning to Sunday night. Sparkling water with lemon or lime is an easy order when you go out.
In Waltermelon: A No alcohol challenge with the Weekend length.
The sugar swap
Swap sugary drinks for water and keep sugar from drinks to 25 g a day.
- Length: Any length
- People: 1+
How to start
Swap sugary drinks for water, sparkling water or tea, and keep sugar from drinks to 25 g a day.
In Waltermelon: The Less sugar challenge: your goal and no more than 25 g of sugar from drinks.
No caffeine after 4 pm
Coffee in the morning is fine. After 4 pm it’s water or herbal tea.
- Length: Any length
- People: 1+
How to start
Coffee in the morning is fine. After 4 pm it’s water or herbal tea. Keep a bottle on your desk for the afternoon so you don’t reach for another coffee.
In Waltermelon: The No caffeine after 4 pm challenge.
Three kinds of drinks
Reach your goal with at least 3 different drinks.
- Length: Any length
- People: 2+
How to start
Reach your goal with at least 3 different drinks, like water, tea and milk. Swap your favorites with friends for new ideas.
In Waltermelon: The Variety challenge.
Water at every meeting
Whoever books the meeting brings a jug and glasses.
- Length: Any length
- People: Team
How to start
Whoever books the meeting brings a jug and glasses. More in our office water challenge kit.
Refill on the hour
When the clock hits the hour, stand up and refill your bottle.
- Length: Any length
- People: Team
How to start
When the clock hits the hour, stand up and refill your bottle. It doubles as a stretch break.
A glass with every dinner
Everyone at the table starts dinner with a glass of water.
- Length: Any length
- People: 2+
How to start
Everyone at the table starts dinner with a glass of water, and the kids pick the cups.
The sticker chart
A sticker for every day each person reaches their goal.
- Length: 7 days
- People: 2+
How to start
A sticker for every day each person reaches their goal. A full row by Sunday earns a family treat.
Longest streak wins
Whoever keeps their daily goal streak going longest wins.
- Length: Any length
- People: 2+
How to start
See who can keep their daily goal streak going longest. Whoever breaks first buys the coffee.
In Waltermelon: Friends see each other’s streaks, and a Rescue Shield can save a missed day.
The nudge deal
If one of you is behind by evening, the other sends one reminder.
- Length: Any length
- People: 2
How to start
If one of you is behind by evening, the other sends one reminder. Just one, no nagging. It works with any accountability partner.
In Waltermelon: Send a nudge: it arrives as a water reminder from you.
Beyond the goal
On a hot week or a training week, aim for your goal plus 20%.
- Length: 7 days
- People: 1+
How to start
On a hot week or a training week, aim for your goal plus 20%. Spread it through the day; never force it down.
In Waltermelon: The Beyond the goal challenge.
The 30-day challenge
One theme a week for 30 days, from building the base to holding the streak.
- Length: 30 days
- People: 1+
How to start
One theme a week for 30 days, from building the base to holding the streak. Follow our free 30-day plan.
In Waltermelon: A shared challenge with the 30-day length.
In Waltermelon, a Daily goal challenge for 3 or 7 days is free to start. The other types and the weekend, 14-day and 30-day lengths need Premium to start. Joining a friend’s challenge is always free, whatever its type or length.
Rules that make any water challenge work
Use your own goal
A goal that fits your size and day beats one number for everyone. The water intake calculator works one out.
Count days, not ounces
A day counts when you hit your goal. That keeps it fair and never rewards drinking too much.
Never chug
Spread water through the day. Drinking a lot in a short time can be dangerous, so skip any challenge that rewards speed or volume. If you have a heart or kidney condition or have been told to limit fluids, talk to your doctor first.
Allow a bad day
Aim for most days, not every single one. Waltermelon shared challenges need 70% of everyone’s goal days.
Pick a finish line
Seven days is easy to commit to. Thirty days gives a habit a real head start.
Do it with someone
Someone who sees your progress keeps you going. See how a water tracker with friends works.
How to run these challenges in Waltermelon
- 1
Add your people
Friends, a partner, family or coworkers, on iPhone or Android, with an invite link, a code or a QR code.
- 2
Pick a type and a length
Daily goal, Beyond the goal, Morning start, No alcohol, Less sugar, No caffeine after 4 pm or Variety, for a weekend or 3, 7, 14 or 30 days.
- 3
Everyone drinks to their own goal
The app tracks each person’s day, and everyone sees how the others are doing.
- 4
Make it together
The team needs 70% of all goal days. Make it and everyone earns the same Drops: 140 each for 7 days as two, 280 each as four or more.
The full reward table and a free 7-day plan are on our water challenge page.
Pick your crowd
- Water tracker with friendsHow friends, streaks, cheers and nudges work in Waltermelon.
- Water challenge for couplesA free 7-day plan to drink more water with your partner.
- Office water challengeA free kit to run a fair team hydration challenge.
- Hydration accountabilityWhat a water accountability partner sees and how they help.
Water challenge ideas FAQ
What are some fun water challenge ideas?
Popular water challenge ideas include a 7-day goal streak with friends, a first glass of water before 9 am, an alcohol-free weekend, a sugar swap, no caffeine after 4 pm and water at every meeting at work. Waltermelon, a free water tracker for iPhone and Android, can run many of them as shared challenges.
What is a good water challenge for a group of friends?
A 7-day challenge where everyone hits their own daily goal works for almost any group, because nobody has to match someone else’s number. In Waltermelon it’s free to start, and the group needs 70% of all goal days to earn the reward.
What hydration challenge ideas work for couples?
Pour two glasses in the morning, put water on the table at every shared meal, and agree on one nudge when the other falls behind. In Waltermelon you can add each other and run a 7-day challenge for two for free.
What water challenges can a team or office do?
Water at every meeting, a refill on the hour, a glass of water with every coffee and a bottle photo in the team channel before lunch. Score the days people hit their own goal, never the amount. Waltermelon’s free office water challenge kit explains how to run one.
What water challenge ideas work for kids and families?
Keep it short and visible: a glass of water with every dinner, kids picking their own cups and a sticker chart for a week. Children’s water needs differ from adults’, so ask your pediatrician if you’re unsure how much they need.
Which water challenges can Waltermelon track?
Waltermelon has seven shared challenge types: Daily goal, Beyond the goal (your goal plus 20%), Morning start (first drink before 9 am), No alcohol, Less sugar (no more than 25 g from drinks), No caffeine after 4 pm and Variety (3 kinds of drinks), for a weekend or 3, 7, 14 or 30 days. A Daily goal challenge for 3 or 7 days is free to start, and joining any challenge is always free.
Are water challenges safe?
For most healthy people, drinking to a sensible daily goal spread through the day is fine. Avoid challenges that reward drinking a lot fast, which can be dangerous. If you have a heart or kidney condition, are pregnant, or have been told to limit fluids, talk to your doctor first. Waltermelon reminders only run between your wake-up time and bedtime to help you spread drinks out.
