Desk Drinks
When having a busy day working at your desk it can be easy to get into the habit of either forgetting to drink enough or to drink too many unhealthy drinks – either of these habits can lead to poor concentration and fatigue.
Why drink?
In general, we drink to hydrate, stimulate and/or nourish (habit and addiction also plays a role in some cases too!)
Hydrate
Keeping well hydrated throughout the day will improve your concentration, energy levels and digestion.
Start your working day with a large jug or bottle of water on your desk which you can gradually consume during the day
If you fancy a warm hydrating drink, try a mug of hot water with a slice of lemon or ginger or a mug of herb tea
Stimulate
Natural caffeine found in coffee and tea is a stimulant that does have some health benefits such as increasing alertness and sharpening concentration. Drinking a few cups of tea or coffee a day won’t hurt, especially if you alternate these with one of the hydrating drinks above. However, go easy on added sugar or sweeteners and consider laying off in the afternoon as caffeine can stay in the bloodstream for some time and can affect your sleep.
Energy, fizzy, sugary and alcoholic drinks are all stimulating drinks that should be avoided during the working day as they will give you a short term boost but this will be followed by an energy and blood sugar slump and then you start craving another stimulating drink to help lift you again and so a repeating negative cycle is formed (as is the dent in your wallet as you end up buying more and more of these addictive drinks!)
If you currently drink a lot of these stimulating drinks regularly you may experience headaches for a few days when you first stop – listen to your body and if any withdrawal symptoms are too severe try cutting them out gradually and diluting them with water progressively over a period of a week or two. Keep a drinks diary and set yourself realistic targets to reach your end goal.
Nourish
Fruit Smoothies, fruit juices and green (vegetable) juices, whether shop bought or homemade, can offer a variety of nutrients, especially vitamins and minerals. If you buy ready-made smoothies and fruit juices check the label for added sugar or preservatives and be mindful that in general any of these will contain a high amount of natural sugar and less fibre than if you ate a piece of fruit which means it is much more likely to give you a blood sugar spike then slump. Green juices are a healthier choice because of this and are quite a useful tool on your desk to keep you hydrated, help re-educate a sweet tooth and reduce any sugar cravings over your working day.
Gut Health drinks such as probiotic drinks and fermented drinks such as Kombucha and Kefir can offer also offer great health benefits – the catch is that there are many of these drinks available which have an unneccesary amount of added sugar and preservatives – the trick is to read the label and only choose those with a small number of natural ingredients.
Consider a healthy snack for added nutrition during the day
In summary……
Keeping well hydrated with water, drinking tea and coffee in moderation and avoiding stimulating drinks will help you make the most of your working day by improving your concentration and keeping your energy levels on a more even keel.
© C Spurling BA (Hons) Dip ION
© GS Method