THE MORNING AFTER: WHY DO YOU FEEL LIKE THIS?

Waking up after a night out can feel like your body has been hit by a truck—head pounding, mouth dry, energy levels somewhere near zero. You swear you’ll never drink again (until next weekend, of course), and suddenly, all you want is water, something greasy, and maybe a miracle.

Here’s the thing—water alone won’t save you. If hydration was the only issue, you could just chug a couple of glasses and be fine. But the real reason you feel like a dried-out sponge left in the sun is electrolyte depletion.

Let’s break down why that matters—and why replenishing electrolytes might just be the closest thing to a hangover cure.

HOW ALCOHOL AFFECTS HYDRATION

Alcohol is a diuretic—meaning it makes you lose fluids faster than you can replace them.

Every time you hit the bathroom after a few drinks, you’re not just getting rid of excess liquid—you’re flushing out essential minerals like sodium, potassium, and magnesium.

By the time you wake up, your body is running on empty, and that’s when hangover symptoms hit:

• Headache? Blame dehydration and sodium loss.

• Dizziness & fatigue? Your body can’t regulate hydration properly without potassium.

• Muscle aches? Low magnesium messes with muscle recovery.

• Brain fog? Your nervous system needs electrolytes to fire on all cylinders.

In short, a hangover isn’t just about being dehydrated—it’s about your body losing the ability to hold onto hydration properly. That’s where electrolytes come in.

HOW ELECTROLYTES HELP AFTER A NIGHT OUT

• Rehydrate Faster: Sodium, potassium, and chloride pull water back into your cells, meaning you actually retain the hydration you’re drinking.

  
  
  

• Fight the Headache: Dehydration shrinks blood vessels, making that pounding headache worse. Sodium and magnesium help restore balance and ease the pain.

  
  
  

• Prevent That Cement-Leg Feeling: If you’ve ever woken up sore (even if you did nothing athletic), your muscles need potassium and magnesium to relax properly.

  
  
  

• Ditch the Brain Fog : Sodium and potassium regulate nerve signaling, helping you think clearly again—which is useful when you’re trying to piece together what happened last night.

THE CURE FOR YOUR MONDAY MORNING BRAIN FOG

Maybe last night got a little out of hand, and now you’re staring blankly at your screen, pretending to function. The bad news? You’ve still got meetings. The good news? If your office has a REFILL+ system, you’re already halfway to feeling human again.

Pick your favorite flavor, sip on functional hydration, and let the added electrolytes and vitamins do their thing. Bonus: zero single-use plastic involved.

No REFILL+ yet? Try these quick fixes:

• A pinch of sea salt in water – Helps replenish sodium and balance hydration.

• Lemon water – Adds potassium and vitamin C for a light refresh.

• Electrolyte-rich foods – Bananas, avocados, yogurt, or coconut water can help restore your mineral levels.

But let’s be honest—wouldn’t it be easier if you already had an electrolyte-packed hydration system in your office?

Convince your boss and discover how staying hydrated at work can make you sharper, faster, and 14% more productive? Check out our blog on How Hydration Impacts Productivity.

HYDRATE SMARTER, NOT HARDER

Hangovers are brutal, but they don’t have to ruin your day. So next time, if you wake up feeling like a dried-out raisin, skip the greasy food and grab some electrolytes instead.

And hey, if you’re the work-hard, play-hard type, having REFILL+ in your office might just be the best safety net you never knew you needed.