Don’t Underestimate The Importance of Drinking Water While You Work
Colorado workdays are full, busy, and hectic, which means you probably don’t spend a lot of time wondering how much water should you drink while on the job. But knowing the answer to that question will affect your health, concentration, and productivity, which in turn makes those long hours at work more agreeable.
That is because dehydration can lay you low. If your body doesn’t get enough H2O, your brain, muscles, and other body parts can’t function properly. Not drinking enough water can compromise your body’s ability to flush out and rid itself of contaminants, making you more likely to get sick and miss work. Dehydration can also negatively impact your focus, significantly reduce your energy, make you less productive, and increase your stress levels. Additionally, many studies associate chronic dehydration with obesity, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.
But how much water should you drink while at work to avoid all of these negative effects of dehydration? The answer to that question depends on several factors, including your gender and your body weight. Here is what you need to know, and how much you need to drink, to keep yourself rolling through your workdays.
Baseline Amounts Of Water Consumption
We are all unique, and that means how much water we should drink during work will vary from individual to individual. But according to The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the average, healthy American adult living in a temperate climate should consume the following amount of water or water-containing fluids and foods each day:
- Men: About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters or 125 ounces) of fluids per day
- Women: About 11.5 cups (2.7 liters or 92 ounces) of fluids per day
Most of those fluids should come from water, but about 20 percent of daily fluid intake comes from food. Coffee and tea also count toward this goal (but see the subheading “Your Diet” below for additional information). The common advice you’ve likely heard about drinking eight glasses of water each day, however, is spot on. Since you spend most of your waking hours each day at work, you should consume most of those glasses at work.
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5 Factors That Affect The Answer To “How Much Water Should You Drink?”
As noted, none of us are “average.” That means the amount of water you need each day depends on how you spend those days. Lifestyle, diet, environment, and other factors will impact whether you need more or less water than those typical eight glasses a day.
The following things play a role in your recommended workday water intake:
Where You Live
Colorado’s average elevation is 6,800 feet above sea level, which definitely qualifies our home state as high-altitude. Because the air is not as oxygenated at high altitudes, your body has to work harder, which can cause dehydration. And the higher you go, the more water you will need to drink to stay hydrated. Unsurprisingly, if you live in a hot, humid, or dry area, you will need to drink more water than folks who live in colder environments.
Your Diet
If making it through your workday means loading up on coffee and other caffeinated drinks, you may need to drink more water to compensate for what you lose from increased urination. The same goes for those who eat or snack on salty, spicy, or sugary foods throughout the day.
The Time Of Year
Common sense tells us that we tend to sweat more in the heat of the summer months than in the colder winter months. So, increasing your water intake during summer’s warmer temperatures will keep you hydrated.
Your Working Environment
If you spend your workday outdoors in the sun or hot temperatures, you will need to drink more water than your neighbors that spend most of their days in an office.
Your Activity Level
Those with physically strenuous occupations (or anyone who exercises during the day) require more water than a colleague who spends most of their days sitting at a desk. If you are interested in how much to increase your water intake based on your activity level, check out handy on-line water intake calculators like this one.
Bottom Line: Drink Often, Drink When You’re Thirsty, Drink Throughout The Day
Taking into account the factors listed above, the answer to “How Much Water Should You Drink When Working To Avoid Dehydration?” isn’t complicated. Fill up your water bottle or glass regularly. If you get thirsty, drink water. And if you sweat a lot, drink even more.
Businesses can keep their workforce hydrated throughout the workday by maintaining easy access to an abundant supply of fresh, filtered drinking water.
Clearly Colorado: Delivering The Purest Water On The Front Range
At Clearly Colorado, we know how critical hydration is for Colorado workers, and we understand that hydration can help workers sleep better so they can be more productive and engaged. We are committed to delivering the purest, highest quality water available on the Front Range.
To learn more about how we can help with hydration and health, please contact us for a free quote for business drinking water services.
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