Ways to Stay Hydrated at your Desk

Spring is here, meaning summer is on its way. Ready for sunshine, barbeques, beaches, and…feeling dehydrated at your desk? Dehydration can leave you feeling hot and bothered from the heat and humidity – this therefore affecting your productivity and performance at work.

With there being problems with temperature control in offices as it is – open-plan layouts in particular – the warmer weather won’t help matters. A way to keep from overheating in the office, alongside assessing what you’re wearing and things like fans, open windows, air-con units etc. is taking note of your hydration levels, and here’s how to ensure you’re at your best.

A study, as reported by the Huffington Post, revealed that of 30,000 people, less than 1% drank the recommended eight glasses of water per day. While eight glasses of water seems like a hefty amount, and you’d much prefer to reach for the tea, coffee or fizzy drink - there are ways to get your water intake up.

Add flavour to your water. Sugar free fruit squash or adding squeezes of pure lemons, oranges or lime is the healthy way to add interest. The additions of citrus add some sweetness, while also giving you some valuable vitamin C. If citrusy flavours aren’t your bag, add some crushed mint leaves for a refreshing taste, which you could pretend is a mojito while sat in-front of your computer screen.

Flavoured ice cubes are another great option to add interest. Fruity additions like strawberries, kiwi and blueberries can add some sweetness while also cooling you – there’s nothing more refreshing than ice water.

If you’re one who enjoys bog-standard water but find yourself not quite drinking enough throughout the day, something as simple as a nice water bottle can motivate you. Go for one in your favourite colour, one of those fancy ones which filter the water, or the stainless-steel type which keep the contents cold all day. Having a bottle you like - instead of a average plastic one which keeps the water cold for no longer than about 10 minutes - which is also functional will likely give your colleagues water-bottle-envy (if there’s such a thing) and maybe prompt them to get one themselves.

If you’re big on desk snacks, keeping them healthy and choosing ones rich in water content is a good route to take to boost your hydration. Delicious refreshing fruits like watermelon (clues in the name), strawberries and melons have at least 90% water content, so they’ll make a great snack. Vegetables like cucumber, celery and tomatoes paired with a dip are also great savoury options.

So, take note of these tips to stay hydrated and productive at work during the warmer months where humidity may be high.

Laura Sewell

An aspiring journalist, Laura is our content writer intern.  Pop-punk gig-goer and drag queen enthusiast, Laura is working her way into the industry with an English A -Level and love of writing about anything and everything in tow.