7 Ways I Stay Hydrated

I’ve fully committed to making hydration my entire personality. For as long as I can remember, I’ve felt like dehydration hit me harder than everyone else. It turns out I was right. In 2025, I was diagnosed with POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), which basically means my body isn’t great at regulating blood flow and volume—so I don’t retain fluids as well, making me much more prone to dehydration. For me, staying hydrated isn’t just a nice-to-have—it is essential.

If I’m not hydrated, I feel like absolute garbage. I have terrible headaches, dizziness, fatigue, dull skin, and itchy eyes—it’s an awful experience. I’m basically walking around like a haunted Victorian ghost child with people asking if I’m okay. Dehydrated me is not okay, but thanks for your concern.

Since I’m extra prone to dehydration, I treat hydration as a mandatory because, honestly, life is way too short to feel like crap. I’d prefer to be thriving, glowing, and alive vs. feeling like a corpse. Here’s what I do.

I drink so much water

Groundbreaking, I know. Truly revolutionary advice. But yes—I drink a lot of water. According to the CDC, you should divide your body weight in half, and that number is the minimum ounces of water you should drink each day. So if you weigh 120 lbs, you should aim for at least 60 oz daily. The water bottle pictured above (and linked for your shopping pleasure) is 20 oz, which means I’m knocking back at least three of these a day like it’s my full-time job.

Seriously though—water is a big deal. It helps regulate my body temperature, prevent infections, flush out toxins, and deliver nutrients to all my cells. It also impacts my mental health greatly. Without enough H2O, I start noticing issues with sleep, memory, focus, and my mood. I become an angry elf.

I start my day with bananas

The first thing I think about in the morning is, you guessed it, bananas. Seriously, if I don’t start my day with one, I might as well cancel my plans. I eat about two before 9:00am—sometimes I put them into smoothies, other times I eat them the old-fashioned way.

Bananas are hydration heroes. They’re about 75% water and packed with electrolytes like potassium, which helps my body actually hold onto that water instead of letting it disappear immediately. When I eat a banana, I’m not just getting hydration—I’m helping my body actually use that water properly.

They also have natural sugars, so I get a little energy boost too. Basically, bananas are out here keeping me hydrated and functional.

I drink practically no alcohol

My relationship with alcohol has changed dramatically since October 2024, and saying things have improved would be a massive understatement. Once I experienced how incredible life can feel when alcohol isn't a regular part of it, there was no going back to my old habits.

I've become incredibly intentional about staying hydrated so I can feel my absolute best every day. It's become one of the biggest priorities in my wellness routine. These days, if I choose to have a drink, it's rare and intentional—not automatic. Most of the time, I'd rather wake up feeling energized, hydrated, and fully myself than trade that for a few hours of buzz.

I realized alcohol only elevated my mood for a short window before leaving me feeling dehydrated and less like myself. Feeling good all day instead of just for an hour has become one of my favorite upgrades. I choose my beverages thoughtfully, because feeling my best has become something I'm simply not willing to compromise very often.

I eat so many pickles

Back in my drinking days, I would chug pickle juice straight from the jar at 7:00am to cure a hangover (very chic, I know). Don’t get me wrong, I like pickles—I think I actually love them. Pickles of all shapes and sizes have been a staple in my fridge for my entire adult life.

I am delighted that these hydration superfoods will remain on my grocery list until the end of time. Pickles help keep me hydrated because they are made from cucumbers, which are high in water, and brine, which is packed with electrolytes like sodium. That combination helps my body retain fluids and stay properly hydrated.

Up next, I’ll explain why people with POTS are often encouraged to increase their sodium intake. But for the other 99.8% of the population, pickles are best enjoyed in moderation because all that sodium can add up quickly.

I do, in fact, add more salt

When not one but three doctors told me to add more salt, I said, “say less.” I am team savory. If there is anything I love more than pickles, it’s salt.

Sodium is now a doctor-prescribed way I manage my POTS and stay hydrated. Increasing my salt intake helps my body retain more fluid, which keeps me better hydrated and supports my blood volume. When I stay on top of both salt and fluids, it’s much easier for my body to keep blood flowing where it needs to go. It’s one of the simplest things I can do that makes a noticeable difference in how I feel day to day, even if it goes against the usual advice most people hear about limiting salt. Lucky me.

I bring electrolytes everywhere

If there were a contest for the most electrolyte packets you could pull out of your purse, I would win. Finding a new flavor with cool, new packaging design does it for me. I cannot pass up the impulse purchase. Electrolyte packets make any time hydration time. One of my favorite things to say at a restaurant is, “I’ll have a flat water in a wine glass, hold the ice.” Then I stir in my little packet like the obnoxiously hydrated person I’ve become, clinking the little spoon with zero shame. This magic powder quickly replaces essential minerals like sodium, potassium, and magnesium, helping my body stay balanced.

I take sleep seriously

A regular sleep pattern is non-negotiable for me. I’m in bed by 10:00pm, up at 6:00am. I need a full eight hours—full stop. And before you call that lame, just know Tom Brady follows an even stricter routine. During his career, he was known for going to bed around 8:30pm and waking up around 5:30am. Tom and I both prioritize consistency, we treat sleep as an essential part to our peak performance. He wins Super Bowls, while I excel at things like marketing and momming. We’re practically twins.

At the end of each day, sleep is the final way I help prevent dehydration. While I rest, my body releases hormones like vasopressin that help my kidneys conserve water and maintain fluid balance. Quality sleep supports this process, while poor sleep can disrupt it and lead to increased fluid loss, fatigue, and feeling more depleted the next day.