People go to great lengths to cultivate mental focus. Some prefer caffeine, others prefer meditation or online brain games, and the list goes on from there. No matter what methods are used to build focus, a dehydrated brain gets you nowhere fast. Hydration not only helps with fundamentally every physical component of our bodies, it also helps our brains work as they should.
Hydration Can Help You Stay Focused on a Single Task for Greater Amounts of Time
Considering that your brain is over 85% water, it should not come as a surprise that water helps your brain operate more effectively. Scientists at the University of East London and the University of Westminster believe that when you are even a little bit dehydrated, your brain has a much more difficult time focusing on the task at hand.
This theory seems to make sense. After all, hydration is one of your brain’s highest priorities. In order to be able to focus on other (lesser) priorities, you should make sure to hydrate while engaging in any mentally-demanding tasks.
Hydration Helps Memory
Studies demonstrate that dehydration also makes it significantly more difficult for people (children and adults alike) to perform necessary cognitive functions such as making memories, or even doing simple arithmetic. Without a proper level of hydration, our brains only operate at a fraction of their overall capacity.
Many people try to improve their cognitive performance by consuming coffee, soda, or a variety of energizing substances, but it is important to note that pretty much every substance containing caffeine serves as a diuretic which can actually dehydrate your body. If you are going to consume any of these substances, you will need to make even more of a conscious effort in order to assure you are adequately hydrated.
Hydration Helps Improve Your Mood
If you are ever in a bad mood for no apparent reason, one of the first things you might want to consider doing is having a tall glass of water. The effect that dehydration can have on our moods, emotions, and overall outlook on life becomes immediately apparent.
When you are in a better mood, you will also likely have a much easier time focusing on a given task. You may also be able to improve your general cognitive performance and ability to remember things.
Listen to Your Brain
When people are engaged in focus-driven tasks such as studying or working on a major project, they often dismiss the need for hydration because they believe taking a break will be a distraction. On the contrary, there is ample evidence to suggest the more dehydrated you become, the worse your brain will function. Doesn’t it seem worthwhile to break out a serving of Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier before you mess up another TPS report?
Instead of thinking that we know better than our own bodies, we should take the time to listen to them when they are telling us they’re in need of hydration. Getting a glass of water or taking a hydration supplement is something that only requires a few minutes of our time, but the results can be profound.