Honestly, Vanessa

For the longest time, I thought hydration was simple.

Drink more water.
Carry a cute water bottle.
Refill it a million times a day.

Done, right?

But somehow… even when I was chugging water all day, I still felt tired. I still wasn’t going everyday. My mouth was dry. My urine was too clear.

And I kept wondering, how am I drinking so much water and still feel dehydrated?

Turns out, hydration is way more than just pouring water into your body.

And once I learned this, so many things started making sense.

We don’t just lose water when we sweat.

We lose it through breathing, going to the bathroom, digestion, movement, and honestly, even just existing. Our bodies are constantly letting fluids go in ways that we really don’t notice.

So that’s why hydration isn’t something you handle once and forget about. It’s a balance your body is working to maintain all day long.

And when fluid levels get low, our blood gets thicker, circulation slows, digestion struggles, and our body starts sending us signals.

But here’s the part a lot of us tend to forget.

Sometimes thirst really is just about needing water, especially for those of us who get busy, distracted, running around all day, and genuinely forget to drink. I’m definitely one of those people.

Sometimes it’s about what your body is actually missing, minerals and absorption.

I always thought the answer was to just chug more water. But sometimes chugging water just makes you pee constantly without actually fixing anything.

And when that happens, you’re not just losing water, you’re losing electrolytes too. Then you feel thirsty again and it becomes a loop.

Ever notice your urine is totally clear and you’re still thirsty?
That’s often a sign you’re overdoing water and under doing minerals.

Your body doesn’t just want water.
It wants balance.

Another thing that was a big “ohhh that makes sense” moment for me is when I learned that hydration and digestion are besties.

Your digestive system runs on fluids. Water helps create stomach acid, move food along, and let enzymes do their job.

When you’re dehydrated, digestion slows down.
That can lead to bloating, constipation, heartburn, and that heavy uncomfortable feeling after meals.

One of the easiest habits I’ve picked up is drinking warm water — especially in the morning and before meals. It gently wakes up digestion instead of shocking it.

Cold water might feel refreshing, but it actually tightens blood vessels and slows digestion down.

Think cozy, not icy.

Some of the signs that you may be dehydrated are things like dry mouth. Chapped lips that won’t go away no matter how much balm you use. Dry, irritated eyes.

Constipation with hard little rabbit-pellet stools that make you feel like your body is holding onto everything. Dark yellow urine.

That tired feeling that shows up for no obvious reason. Random headaches. Digestion that just feels… slow and heavy.

What I’ve learned is that hydration works best when it’s nourishing, not just watery.

Simple changes here and there made a huge difference for me.

Choosing warm water instead of ice cold water so my digestion isn’t shocked. Adding a tiny pinch of sea salt with a squeeze of lemon or lime to help my body actually hold onto fluids.

Eating more soups and broths that hydrate while they nourish. And even smoothies with fruits like banana that naturally replenish minerals.

Nothing extreme. Just small supportive habits that my body responds to so much better.

More water isn’t always better.

Real hydration is about supporting your body with minerals, keeping digestion working smoothly, choosing warm water over cold, and actually listening to what your body is asking for instead of forcing a one-size-fits-all rule.

Once I stopped forcing myself to chug and started supporting hydration gently, everything felt smoother, energy, digestion, even my skin.

Sometimes wellness isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing things smarter and kinder to your body.