Why IT Workers Need to Drink More Water

We all know the importance of drinking enough water, yet few of us are adequately hydrated on a daily basis. This is because we spend so much time at work, where we’re often too busy to consider whether or not we’re drinking enough water. This is especially true for IT workers, who often work grueling hours. 

How Much Water Should You Aim For? 

The basic rule of thumb is to aim for eight glasses of water a day. If you aim for this intake, you’re going to stay hydrated for sure! More generally, just reach for water when you’re thirsty – your body will tell you what you need. 

The type of water you’re drinking is important to. No, this doesn’t mean you have to reach for a $10 bottle of water but it does mean you’ll want to filter your water. According to our experts, there are certain filters that will work better than others depending on the situation you’re in. For instance, a Fleck 5600 SCT would work for hard water but it wouldn’t work as well for filtering salt. On the other hand, an Aquasana would work well for salt but maybe not for generally hard water. 

Increase in Productivity 

We’ve all experienced a lull in the day where our productivity plummets. Sometimes it’s in the morning before lunch, other times it’s in the mid-afternoon and we start watching the clock to go home. It seems like whenever we hit these lulls we reach for a cup of coffee or tea, which the intention of waking up. These give a boost for a while, before sending you back into the fog of low productivity. 

What many of us fail to realize is that dehydration could be the cause of our mental fog. Being dehydrated causes your cognition to decline, which can tank your productivity at work. 

Increase in Positivity 

Dehydration is the culprit behind a host of health problems that leave us feeling cranky. Headaches and exhaustion from dehydration can make the workday feel like it drags on forever, making us miserable all day long. Feeling physically unwell whenever you’re at the office is likely to put you in a sour mood. You may even start dreading going into work, which is absolutely no way to live. 

Staying hydrated may be the answer to making work a little more bearable. Of course, it’ll always be work, but having a positive attitude will make you dread clocking in less. 

This concept is especially important to IT workers. After all, sitting in front of a screen all day can already give you headaches if you aren’t careful. Keeping a water bottle on your work desk can go a long way in helping to stave off this problem. 

Better Health

Chronic dehydration, even when mild, can be quite problematic for your overall health. Being dehydrated regularly can lead to a decrease in kidney functioning. You would also be more prone to developing urinary tract infections and kidney stones. 

While both are treatable, they can wreak havoc on your body and leave you in a lot of pain. People with high blood pressure should be especially sure to drink plenty of water, as chronic dehydration can exacerbate this condition. 

While you can deal with these problems, it’s going to go a lot better for you if you take preventative measures. If those measures are just to make sure you drink water during the day, there isn’t much excuse to not take them!

Promoting a Healthy Weight

Working in IT means sitting at a desk staring at a computer for most of your shift. There is rarely time to get up from your desk, let alone get any substantial exercise during the workday. Unfortunately, this is true for most in the modern era, so it’s important to make up for the low exertion levels. 

On top of that, many working individuals often reach for the fastest thing to eat rather than the healthiest. When low amounts of exercise are combined with copious amounts of junk food, it can be easy to gain weight. 

Drinking enough water is part of a routine to maintain a healthy weight. When coffee or soda is swapped out for water, you get a zero-calorie drink that helps you as well as quenches your thirst. Not only does this keep you from taking in calories from beverages, but it also doesn’t have the sugar that other drinks have that which contributes to weight gain. 

Between the workload and the hours, a job in IT can be exhausting. While it may be easy to reach towards coffee, soda, and anything else loaded with sugar to drink, it’s not going to leave you feeling as good as if you stay hydrated. Next time you’re feeling a little groggy, try a bottle of water in the place of your favorite caffeinated drink.