I realize “Aquatoberpril” is a goofy mash-up and I’m not sure how to pronounce it either. It simply reflects that my annual “Aquatober” challenge — where I commit to drinking water instead of soda and other sugary beverages for the month of October — has stretched well beyond October and into April. Hence the new, awkwardly named phase: Aquatoberpril.
In past years my success with Aquatober has been inconsistent. Sometimes I didn’t make it through the whole month. Other years I managed to go farther. This time, though, I’ve stuck with it for about six months, with the notable exception of a milkshake I made for myself recently. I’m not sharing this for praise or trophies; I mention it because this year’s experience taught me something about motivation and accountability.
The difference this time was that I told more people about it. In previous attempts I only mentioned Aquatober to close friends and family. This year I wrote about it on the blog, and suddenly the whole experiment felt more real. Posting it publicly — knowing readers might read and respond — made me more determined to follow through. It wasn’t that I expected anyone to notice if I slipped up one night, and I certainly wasn’t worried about public shaming. What mattered was the enthusiasm and encouragement people showed in the comments, and that encouragement became a steady motivator for me.
Honestly, the tangible benefits of cutting out soda for months haven’t been dramatic. Sure, there are probably a few extra dollars in my bank account from ordering water at restaurants and my dentist might appreciate fewer cavities, but I didn’t experience a dramatic energy surge, glowing skin, or significant weight loss. (A book tour and too many cupcakes likely didn’t help the scale.) What I did gain was more subtle and, I think, more valuable: confidence in my ability to set a goal, commit to it, and form a new habit.
That feeling of accomplishment is what I’m truly thankful for. When you make a change and sustain it long enough to notice the pattern, it reinforces the belief that you can change your behavior when you decide to. Publicly committing to a goal and receiving support from others can be a surprisingly powerful technique for building momentum. For me, the readers’ comments and the small interactions around the challenge kept the idea fresh and actionable in my mind.
That said, I’m not promising to give up soda forever. Summer is coming, and on hot, humid days I’m more likely to crave something cold and sweet that doesn’t taste like plain water. I expect to indulge occasionally. The point of this experiment wasn’t perfection; it was learning that I could be intentional about a habit, test my limits, and come out feeling more capable.
If you’ve ever tried to quit soda or cut back on sugary drinks, I’d love to hear what worked for you. Did you notice changes in how you felt physically or mentally? Did you replace soda with anything that satisfied those familiar cravings? Or if you’re currently trying to build a healthier habit of any kind, what keeps you motivated? For me, declaring the goal publicly and finding small, consistent sources of encouragement made all the difference.
In short: Aquatoberpril has been a worthwhile experiment. It didn’t transform my life overnight, but it proved that small, deliberate choices can add up and that sharing your goals with others can help you stick with them. I’ll likely keep drinking mostly water, with room for the occasional treat, and I’m grateful for the reminder that willpower can be strengthened — especially when you don’t have to go it alone.