Why You Need to Drink More Water at Work

You may already be aware that you need to drink more water when you exercise or when it’s hot, but did you know you also need to ensure you drink more water at work? 

The average person spends around 84,000 hours at work in their lifetime. As we spend so much of our waking lives at work, gaining good work-life habits is essential for our health and wellbeing. 

However, our health is not often a priority at work, and we can be easily distracted by projects and tasks. 

Unfortunately, in our fast-paced busy working environments, it’s easy to avoid drinking enough water, as we’re often so focused on getting through our workload. 

Instead, many of us turn to hot drinks such as tea and coffee to stay alert during the day. But this is counteractive to our body’s hydration needs. 

In a recent survey carried out by the Hydration Council, 300 UK GPs found that 1 in 10 appointments was down to tiredness and fatigue linked to dehydration. 

The simple fact is, many of us get so caught up in our work that we lead ourselves to become ill due to a lack of basic hydration.  

Affects Productivity 

At work, we need to drink more water to improve our concentration and productivity. 

Sitting for long periods of time can put a strain on our brains mental capability. This includes if our work involves long car journeys or driving.

When dehydration sets in the brain’s tissue begins to shrink. This means our brains have to work a lot harder to perform. 

One study conducted by the University of East London found that students who brought water to exams did better than those who didn’t. 

As dehydration can impair your attention, memory, and motor skills, it’s vital that when at work we ensure to drink water regularly.

Improves our Mood

Our emotions and feelings enable us to communicate effectively at work. Without good communication, we can have a conflict with our colleagues which then ultimately leads to poor performance. 

Dehydration can affect our mood. In one study of 25 young women, dehydration leads to poor mood and reduced concentration. The study also found dehydration gave the women and a tendency to find tasks harder. 

By drinking more water at work we can improve our mood. As well as reduce the likelihood of getting into conflict with our co-workers. 

Impacts Overall Health 

The annual cost of sickness absence for UK businesses reached £554 per employee in 2018. 

With sickness causing costs to business it is an area that organisations across the UK are looking to improve. 

Dehydration can cause illness and hinder existing illnesses as well. 

Going without water for too long can cause headaches, and becoming severely dehydrated has been known to cause hospitalisation. 

If you have an existing medical condition, dehydration can also heighten the problem. This can happen in several ways. Water deprivation can exacerbate the problem, and if not consumed with water, medication can reach toxic levels in our bloodstream.

By drinking more water at work you can remain healthy, happy and more productive. 

For ideas on how you can drink more water at work discover our ideas on alternative ways to stay hydrated in the workplace.