If coffee counted as my entire realistic hydration routine, I would be doing AMAZING. 😂 Coffee is easily my go-to drink, but I’ve learned that I have to be intentional about drinking enough throughout the rest of my day.
Coffee is easily my go-to drink. It’s part of my morning, something I genuinely enjoy, and if you gave me the choice between grabbing a cup of coffee or a bottle of water… well, let’s just say the coffee would have a pretty unfair advantage.
But I also know that I need to intentionally drink throughout the day.
And while I can drink plain water, let’s be honest: plain water can get boring.
Especially when I’m trying to meet a hydration goal and I’m staring at the same giant tumbler thinking, Didn’t I JUST fill this thing? 😂
Over time, I’ve found little ways to make staying hydrated feel less like another task on my to-do list and more like something that naturally fits into my day.
Between being a wife, mom of three, homeschooling, working from home, creating content, and running a business, I need things to be realistic.
Just like with My Realistic Skincare Routine as a Busy Mom & Licensed Esthetician, my hydration routine is no different.
This post shares my personal routine and the products I enjoy. It isn’t medical advice or individualized hydration guidance. Hydration needs can vary, especially for people with certain health conditions or who take medications.
Coffee Is Still Happening 😂
We’re going to get one thing out of the way immediately.
I’m not giving up my coffee.
And thankfully, having a realistic hydration routine doesn’t mean I have to.
Coffee is part of my morning routine and honestly one of those little things I look forward to. Instead of looking at hydration as “I need to replace everything I enjoy with water,” I’ve started thinking more about adding hydration throughout my day.
That mindset works much better for me.
I can enjoy my coffee and still keep water nearby.
I can have something different with a meal.
I can reach for electrolytes when I choose to incorporate them.
It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
And I think that’s something I’ve been learning in several areas of my life lately: a routine has to work with my real life if I expect myself to stick with it.
Plain Water Is Fine… Until It Gets Boring
I actually don’t dislike water.
I’ll happily drink plain cold water.
But when I’m trying to drink more throughout an entire day? That’s when plain water starts getting a little… uninspiring. 😂
That’s one reason I like having options.
Instead of telling myself that every single drink needs to be plain water, I change things up throughout the day. Sometimes it’s regular ice water. Sometimes I add something to it. Sometimes I want bubbles.
Having variety makes drinking throughout the day feel much easier for me.
I Like Adding Electrolytes for Variety
One of my favorite ways to switch things up is adding an electrolyte product to my water or using an electrolyte option I enjoy.
Some of the ones currently in my rotation are Salud Paloma, Liquid I.V. Sugar-Free Peach, SaltStick chewables, and Drink ZYN.
And honestly, flavor matters to me.
If I’m trying to encourage myself to drink something throughout a busy afternoon, having a flavor I actually enjoy makes that bottle or tumbler much more appealing than forcing myself through another round of plain water.
I don’t necessarily use the exact same thing every day, either.
Sometimes I want one flavor. Sometimes another sounds better. Sometimes I’m perfectly happy with plain water.
Again—realistic, not rigid.
And because electrolyte products can contain different amounts of sodium, potassium, sweeteners, and other ingredients, I treat them as products I personally enjoy rather than something everyone automatically needs.
Sometimes I Want Something Fizzy
Listen.
Sometimes water is not what I’m craving. 😂
There are days when I just want something cold and fizzy with my meal, and I am absolutely a Pepsi Zero girly.
I also really enjoy sparkling waters when I want the carbonation without necessarily reaching for soda.
For me, allowing myself those options actually makes the overall routine easier to maintain because I’m not creating these unnecessary rules around what I’m “allowed” to drink.
I’m trying to build habits I can live with—not win a hydration purity contest. 😂
My Tumbler Is Basically Part of the Routine
Can we talk about the power of a cute tumbler?
Because apparently I am much more responsible when my beverage has a cute outfit. 😭😂
I love using larger tumblers that keep my drinks cold because I am significantly more likely to keep sipping when my drink is right next to me and still cold hours later.
There’s also the visual reminder.
If I’m sitting at my desk editing, answering emails, working on the blog, planning content, or homeschooling with the kids and I can physically see my tumbler sitting there, I’m more likely to grab it.
Out of sight, out of mind is VERY real for me.
So yes, the cute tumbler is aesthetically pleasing—but she’s also employed. 😂
Her job is to sit next to me and remind me:
Girl. Drink something.
I’ve Learned to Check In With Myself
I’m definitely not perfect about hydration.
There are still days when I get caught up doing a million things and realize I haven’t been drinking much.
Sometimes I’ll notice that I’m feeling more tired than usual, foggy, or that I have a headache, and that’s when I tend to stop and think about whether I’ve actually had enough to drink that day.
Those feelings can happen for all kinds of reasons, so I don’t automatically assume hydration is the cause. But for me, they’ve become a reminder to check in with myself.
Have I eaten?
Have I been drinking?
Have I been sitting in front of this computer for six hours?
Did I somehow survive the afternoon on coffee and vibes? 😂
Sometimes the answer to that last one is unfortunately yes.
And that little check-in helps me become more aware of what I’ve been doing—or not doing—throughout the day.
My Realistic Hydration Routine Isn’t Perfect
If you’ve noticed a theme developing on this blog lately, it’s probably this:
I am no longer interested in pretending that real life is perfect.
I don’t hit every goal every day.
I don’t drink the exact same amount at the exact same times.
Some days I’m great about keeping my tumbler filled.
Other days I suddenly look at the clock and realize I’ve barely touched it.
But I’m getting better at building little reminders into my life instead of relying on myself to magically remember everything.
Keeping a tumbler nearby helps.
Making my drinks enjoyable helps.
Having different options helps.
And paying attention to how I’m feeling helps me remember to check in with myself.
Making Hydration Fit Into My Actual Life
I think that’s ultimately what makes my realistic hydration routine work for me.
It’s not about forcing myself to love plain water all day long or following an elaborate schedule.
It’s about making hydration easy to remember and enjoyable enough that I actually do it.
So yes, there will probably always be coffee sitting somewhere nearby.
There might be an electrolyte drink in my tumbler.
There may be sparkling water in the fridge.
And every once in a while, there is absolutely going to be a Pepsi Zero involved. 😂
I’m okay with that.
Because I’m learning that taking care of myself doesn’t have to look perfect to still count.
Sometimes it looks like a beautifully planned wellness routine.
The biggest thing I’ve learned about building a realistic hydration routine is that it has to fit into the life I’m actually living.
And sometimes it looks like me sitting at my desk, spotting my cute tumbler out of the corner of my eye and thinking:
Oh yeah… I should probably drink that. 😂💚
