Employees working in an office usually sit behind their desks all day, doing their work on a computer and without having to put in any physical effort. It’s important for office workers to get away from their computer every 30 minutes or so. Making a cup of coffee or tea, going to the bathroom or just a walk around the office can increase their productivity. One way of encouraging employees to walk every now and then is by placing a water cooler in the office.

Why water is important

The human body approximately consists of 70% of water, our brain is made up of about 75% water while our blood consists of about 80% of water. These figures show that it’s important for people to drink enough water for our bodies to keep on functioning the best way they can.

The best way to stay hydrated is by having a steady intake of water: about 250ml every half hour throughout the day, especially during the productive hours of the day. This way the brain can function properly and the mind is less likely to go wandering when working. Tiredness can be a symptom of dehydration as the brain is signalling for more water intake. Hunger can also be a sign of thirst.

The water cooler vs. tap water

There are several ways to provide water in the office. For most offices the easiest way might be through the tap in the kitchen, but some offices might not have a kitchen or potable water. In the case of having a kitchen with a tap, it might be a good idea for employees to have a reusable water bottle that preferably is made from glass or another durable material. This way, the employees can keep track of their daily water intake while using an environmentally friendly container. Some water bottles also have a built-in filter, which are ideal for office kitchen’s whose tapwater needs to be filtered.

Watercoolers come in different sizes and depending on the size of the office, it might be a good idea to go for the smaller one. A water bottle that’s only partially full is not as fresh and healthy when it stays unused for a while. Having a watercooler somewhere in the office also provides the possibility for employees to have a place for small-talk during little breaks.

The best way to go about it is having a reusable water bottle that employees can fill up at the water cooler. A happy working environment is a productive one. Having happy workers increases their level of productivity.