Success Building Block – Good Hydration

In the pursuit of success, it’s hard to argue that productivity is a key ingredient to achieving your goals.  But did you know there is a simple but often overlooked solution that can have a big impact on your productivity? 

Studies show that dehydration will affect concentration levels, mood, clarity of thought and cause a huge increase in fatigue. Hydration is crucial for your health, but it's also crucial for success at work too. Dehydration impacts your concentration, reaction times and mood, which combined will massively impact your work.

Need convincing, here are some stats:

• Just a 1-2% decrease in hydration can cause measurable cognitive impairment
• A 3-4% decrease in hydration can reduce our productivity by as much as 25-50%.
• Proper hydration can result in a significant increase in energy, leading to measurable increases in motivation and productivity.
• It can take up to 2 weeks of consistent hydration to feel the positive effects, especially the cognitive effects.
• Hydration allows our brain’s messages to transmit faster and more efficiently to all parts of our body, resulting in faster response time and less wasted energy which leads to less fatigue, slump, and brain fog.
• Mild dehydration is enough to cause moodiness and fatigue.
• Water helps us mitigate the impact of stress hormones on our body by diluting the extra cortisol produced by our adrenal glands.
• Hydration impacts your ability to properly store and recall memories as well as the speed at which your brain accesses them.

As you would have no doubt heard, our bodies are made up of around 60% water, and every single cell, tissue, and organ depends on it to function properly.  So, when we don’t consume enough water, our body’s natural processes can be compromised, leading to a host of issues, including decreased productivity.

Tips to stay hydrated: 

Set a daily water intake goal: The amount of water you need to consume varies based on your lifestyle, activity level etc. but a general rule of thumb we’re all familiar with is about 8 glasses of water per day.

Start your day by setting a specific water intake goal, start off small and build from there.  Remember to track your progress!

Keep a reusable water bottle with you/at your desk: This simple act will serve as a reminder to stay hydrated.

Set reminders: In the hustle and bustle of a busy workday, it’s easy to forget to drink water.  Setting yourself reminders until the habit is engrained in your routine can help you establish consistence around your new habit.

The Elephant in the Room - Coffee

While you may love the taste of it, coffee is a diuretic, which means it can increase fluid loss from your body. So, to stay optimally hydrated, water is still the best choice. 

Get started today and see the difference

So, if you want to make a big impact on your productivity without much effort, pay more attention to your hydration.  Set a daily intake goal today!