How to stay Hydrated in the Office

Hydration is important for productivity, concentration and overall health. However, between busy days, back to back meetings and caffeine runs, many office workers fail to drink enough water. Fortunately, staying hydrated can be easy with the right habits and equipment.

In this article, we cover why drinking enough water at work is important, and ways you can improve your daily intake. We’ll also take a look at hydration solutions for the workplace, including water coolers and bottle filling stations.

Why Hydration at Work is Important

Hydration is vital when it comes to keeping our bodies operating correctly, and when we’re dehydrated we can start to feel tired, develop headaches and lack concentration.

Drinking enough water can help you to:

• Stay alert and focused 
• Increase energy and reduce tiredness 
• Keep a positive mood and feel good 
• Stay productive

Staying hydrated will help you to work more effectively and stay on top of your tasks.

Reasons Why People Don’t Hydrate Enough at Work

Although we know water is good for us, some people find it difficult to drink enough throughout the day, and this is because:

Not thinking about it - We often get busy and forget to keep drinking water throughout the day.
Over-reliance on caffeine - Coffee, soft drinks and caffeinated drinks are tempting but can actually dehydrate you.
Limited access to water - If you’re working away from a water source it can be difficult to stay topped up.
Inconvenience - Having to leave your desk to refill your bottle.

By providing water coolers or bottle filling stations around the office you can help employees to hydrate more frequently.

Tips to Help You Stay Hydrated at Work

The best place to start when looking to boost hydration is with these simple tips.

Keep water close by

Having water readily available will encourage you to drink regularly, so try to keep a reusable water bottle on your desk.

Drink water first thing

Before reaching for your morning coffee, drink a big glass of water to kickstart your system and rehydrate after sleep.

Set reminders

Try setting a timer or reminder that will prompt you to drink water every hour. You can even associate drinking water with certain tasks to help build up a habit.

Avoid sugary drinks

Coffee and fizzy drinks are fine every now and again but can leave you feeling tired. Water will give you a steady source of energy and won’t dehydrate you.

Add flavour to water

Adding some fruit can help to make water more enjoyable. Filtered water can also make drinking water more appealing.

Benefits of Water Coolers at Work

Whether you choose bottled water coolers or mains fed water dispensers for your office, you'll be opening up your workplace to many new benefits.

Keeps hydration handy

Water coolers are strategically placed around the office in central locations meaning that everyone has access to hydration without having to move too far.

Improved taste

Both bottled water coolers and mains-fed water dispensers provide improved taste through filtration. Better tasting water will encourage your employees to hydrate more.

Hot and cold beverages

Not only do water dispensers provide chilled water, but some also offer boiling water features too.

Office Hydration Options

Bottled water coolers

If you don’t have access to water mains for a plumbed-in water cooler then bottled water coolers are a great alternative. They're easy to set up and will be maintained by your supplier.

Mains-fed water dispensers

We would recommend using a mains-fed water dispenser wherever possible. With an endless supply of chilled water they offer optimal convenience and ease of use.

Bottle filling stations and water fountains

For larger offices and higher traffic areas, bottle filling stations and water fountains are a great hydration option.

Why Install a Bottle Filling Station?

• Quick and easy top ups, perfect for busy, on the go offices
• Promotes the use of reusable bottles 
• Helps businesses be more sustainable 
• Helps improve hygiene with touch free options

Bottle filling stations allow users to quickly fill up their water bottles on the go, providing a more modern and efficient approach to hydration.

Creating a hydration-friendly workplace

Encouraging hydration isn’t just about installing equipment, it’s about building a culture that supports it.

Here are a few ideas:

• Place water coolers and bottle filling stations in visible, high-traffic areas
• Encourage regular breaks for hydration
• Educate employees on the benefits of drinking water
• Provide reusable bottles for staff

When hydration becomes part of the workplace culture, employees are more likely to adopt healthier habits.

Business benefits of hydration solutions

Having happy, healthy employees is what every business wants, and by investing in better hydration solutions you can help your employees to feel better everyday.

Some of the benefits of office water coolers and bottle filling stations include:

• Better productivity 
• Reduce sick days 
• Increase employee happiness 
• Positive workplace environment

Investing in hydration will not only help your employees but your business too.

Final Thoughts

Making sure you stay hydrated throughout the day is one of the most important steps to feeling good and staying productive. By using the above tips and upgrading your hydration setup around the office you can help your employees to hydrate more.

At Thirsty Work we offer a range of hydration solutions to help keep you and your team hydrated. From bottled water coolers to mains-fed bottle filling stations, we can help you stay hydrated at work.