I love to have fresh flowers in my home, and yet I always feel so sad when the flowers wilt and wither away.
Of course, blooms have a limited lifespan, even if left on the plant. But, cutting them stops their water supply and speeds up the wilting process. The cut stems seal up, so even putting the cut flowers in a vase of water doesn’t fully resolve the issue.
There are tricks you can use to extend the life of the blossoms.
Sometimes cutting the stem an inch or so shorter can improve the water intake and perk the flowers up a bit. For cut hydrangeas, submerging them in water can rehydrate the wilted blossoms.
It’s all a matter of getting water to those beautiful flowers.
Like flowers, we humans can wilt when we’re dehydrated. Especially our brains.
The human body is 60 to 70 percent water. But, our brains are about 80 percent water. And we need to stay properly hydrated for our brains to function at peak levels.
The NeuroGrow Brain Fitness Center reports you may experience poor focus and attention, as well as slow processing of information, among other symptoms, when you’re dehydrated.
And, the American College of Nutrition says, “Being dehydrated by just 2 percent impairs performance in tasks that require attention, psychomotor, and immediate memory skills.”
Writing is just such a task.
You don’t have to be a genius to be a good writer. You don’t have to have a certain IQ, know all the rules of grammar, or even be able to type a certain number of words per minute.
But, efficient and productive writing does require good attention and focus.
And, this is why, as a writer, you would do well to drink enough water to keep yourself — especially your brain — properly hydrated.
How Much Water Is Enough?
You’ve probably heard the common recommendation that you should drink 8 glasses of water a day. With each “glass” being 8 ounces. That would be 64 total ounces — half a gallon.
The Mayo Clinic recommends a little more than this, and a different amount for men and women:
- Men — 15.5 cups (124 ounces)
- Women — 11.5 cups (92 ounces)
Personally, I have a 10-cup water pitcher that I fill up each morning with the goal of emptying it throughout the day. I figure that much water, plus the coffee I drink, keeps me pretty well hydrated.
Speaking of coffee, does it count toward keeping you hydrated?
Water vs. Coffee
The Mayo Clinic and most health experts say, yes, coffee counts toward your daily water intake. To a point, at least.
Coffee contains caffeine (unless you drink the decaffeinated stuff). And, caffeine is both a stimulant and a diuretic.
As a diuretic, caffeine causes some fluid loss. However, studies have shown you don’t lose as much fluid as you take in. So, unless you drink a large amount of coffee — 5 cups or more — it shouldn’t dehydrate you.
Do you hear all your fellow coffee-drinking web writers cheering at this news?
But, since caffeine is also a stimulant, it’s still a good idea to put some limits on your coffee intake. Coffee can stimulate alertness, but too much caffeine can overstimulate the brain, and this can lead to confusion.
According to Healthline, other side effects of too much caffeine are a rapid heartbeat and increased blood pressure.
Perhaps you’ve felt these effects in your own body.
Water, on the other hand, keeps the brain hydrated and functioning well without the side effects of caffeine.
So, go ahead and indulge in your morning coffee, but don’t overdo it.
Water Kicked Up a Notch
While I enjoy the taste of plain, filtered water, I also enjoy variety. And, you might, too.
These are a few things I like to add to my water to spice things up a bit:
- Lemons
- Limes
- Oranges
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Cucumbers
- Mint
- Ginger
Do a quick Google search for infused water ideas and you’ll get about 28 million results. (Do it! I’m not making that number up.) The possibilities are endless and totally customizable to your unique taste preferences.
Sparkling or carbonated water is another option to explore.
Test It for Yourself
Although the science already proves being properly hydrated helps your brain function better, I invite you to prove it to yourself by drinking at least 64 ounces of water each day for the next 14 days.
If you aren’t already in the habit of drinking this much water regularly, you may find yourself taking more trips to the bathroom during the first few days as your body adjusts. Your body will adjust, though.
In addition to improved focus and attention, you may also notice improvements to your skin and overall energy. And, you may see a decrease in headaches and joint pain.
You may see an increase in your productivity and find you’re able to write faster and with more clarity.
I’m not making any promises here, but I do believe in the science. And, I’ve seen it for myself… in myself.
Drop me a comment below to let me know if you already know water helps you be more focused and productive… or, if you’re committing to try it for yourself.
Either way, I’m here raising my glass (of water) to you. Cheers! To your success!
