Drink up! How to encourage hydration with a water challenge at work.

By Ross Bielema

Studies suggest nearly 30% of Americans may be dehydrated, but few realize it. Staying hydrated becomes more important as we age. Common symptoms of dehydration include dizziness, headaches, feeling tired or sluggish and dry mouth and skin.

How much water should we drink? According to the Mayo Clinic opens in new window, 11.5 to 15.5 cups of total fluids daily is about right for the average adult. It’s important to note that tea, coffee, milk, fruit juices and other drinks count toward this goal. However, sugary or artificially sweetened sodas and sports drinks may create more health concerns than benefits.

30%

Studies suggest nearly 30% of Americans
may be dehydrated, but few realize it

Encourage your staff to drink more water with a fun hydration challenge! Most employee challenges run over a set period, such as 6 to 8 weeks, with a daily goal of around 64 ounces, or eight 8-ounce glasses. Some online wellness platforms offer easy digital tracking, or you can provide a colorful branded notebook for employees to log their progress.

Kick off your water challenge with logo swag

Start out the contest with a fun kickoff event, which could include handing out custom water bottles, oversized hydration tumblers or medical-style mugs, the kind often used in hospitals. If your employee break rooms have ice makers or water coolers, your staff will appreciate having the reusable bottle for adding ice! Try infusing fruit in the water to give it a hint of flavor. Lemons, limes and strawberries are always popular choices.

Have each staffer estimate how many liquids they are drinking in a day. Record the benchmark and see if they can increase their water intake by ounces or a percentage of their normal average. Incentive prizes could include custom printed blankets, Bluetooth^® speakers, electronics power banks with the company logo or even extra paid time off for reaching the goal.

The real winners are both the employees and the company! Proper hydration increases memory function and the ability to focus on the tasks at hand.

Looking for other creative ways to support your workplace water challenge? Here’s a guide to creating a fun and easy water challenge opens in new window. Also, check out these additional water challenge tips from Culligan opens in new window about how to have a successful employee water challenge at your business.

Keep the water flowing after the contest

Be sure to keep the hydration flowing long after the contest ends. Encourage frequent beverage breaks, especially in industries with great physical exertion or when there are workers in hot environments. Make water and other healthy drinks available and easy to access throughout the job site.

If your business has areas with high temperatures, like warehouses or factories with heat-generating machinery, or most of your workers are outdoors in the heat doing landscaping, construction or concrete work, be sure they take frequent breaks in the shade. Provide water coolers or handy gallon drinking jugs for refreshment outdoors at the job site. The flip-top spout on the gallon jug makes it easy to pour or even drink from if every worker has their own!

While staying hydrated is important, it’s also best to pace your water intake—drinking excessive amounts in a short time can throw off your body’s electrolyte balance. Aim for steady, consistent hydration throughout the day to feel your best.

Build a culture of hydration

A successful water challenge can be the start of something bigger. By making hydration a consistent part of your workplace culture, you support healthier habits, boost energy levels and help employees feel their best every day.

Small, simple changes, like keeping water within reach or encouraging friendly competition, can lead to lasting benefits for both your team and your organization.

Ross Bielema

Ross Bielema is a seasoned SEO marketing specialist at 4imprint, based in Oshkosh, WI, a title he’s held for the past 16 years. He previously was a copywriter here, crafting everything from headlines and company letters to e-mails and faxes. Boosting web presence and organic ranking creatively for one of North America’s top promotional merchandise distributors comes easily because of his combined 38 years of journalism experience. This includes freelance writing for local media outlets such as the Shawano (WI) Leader newspaper, expanding his experience beyond digital marketing into broader content creation. Ross brings a unique blend of marketing acumen, content creation talent and community engagement to his work at 4imprint.

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