by Fern Shaw | May 24, 2023 | aquaid, water cooler, water cooler, Water Coolers
This month of Mental Health Awareness, we have looked at how drinking enough water can aid our ability to reduce anxiety and boost our mental wellbeing. In this blog, we focus our attention to the effects dehydration can have on the brain and possible solutions.
*Almost every bodily function relies on water. Because 75% of brain tissue is water, dehydration reduces energy production in the brain and can change brain structure, causing the brain to slow down and not function properly.
At the molecular level, if water levels are too low, our brain cells cannot function properly, with the brain showing signs of working harder to complete tasks.
Our cells recognise a state of dehydration as a threat to survival, leading to a state of anxiety. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter (a chemical messenger between brain cells) that stabilises our mood and regulates emotions. During dehydration, we struggle to get the chemicals required to produce serotonin into our brain.
Being just half a litre dehydrated may also increase the stress hormone cortisol, which has been associated with a range of mental disorders, including anxiety.
Drinking water, maintaining good hydration habits is proven one of the simplest methods to counteract low mood, anxiety and other stresses associated with insufficient water intake.
If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your staff at your establishment or organisation, speak to us at AquAid. From the smallest office space and staff contingent to multinational companies that employ hundreds of staff, AquAid have a drinking water solution tailor-made to suit your requirements.
source* Nikolaij Travica – article at The Conversation
by Fern Shaw | May 17, 2023 | water cooler, Water Coolers
It may seem simplistic that water consumption can reduce or increase one’s anxiety however, considering water constitutes 60–80% of the human body, this isn’t such a far stretch.
In fact, the evidence shows water and hydration can play a role in preventing and managing the symptoms of anxiety.
A review by researchers focused on the various ways hydration impacts health. **
One trial induced mild dehydration and found increased reports of tension or anxiety and fatigue in participants.
When researchers increased the participants’ water intake, people in the study felt more happiness, no matter how much water they normally drank.
Another large study found people who drink five cups or more of water per day were at lower risk of depression and anxiety. In comparison, drinking less than two cups per day doubles the risk. This link was less noticeable for anxiety alone (although feelings of depression and anxiety often influence each other).
Whichever way we look at the research results, it shows that drinking water regularly can only contribute to one’s mental health and overall a better feeling of wellbeing.
source* Joe Pindar – report at Champion Health
source** Nikolaij Travica – article at
by Fern Shaw | Apr 26, 2023 | water cooler
With the radical changes we have all experienced in the last three years, which have influenced how we live our lives and as we continue on – we ask:
What does a Work / Life Balance mean?
On the surface, the concept of a work/life balance is self-explanatory. There are, however, substantial depths around this balance. The balance has shifted and evolved as times changed. In the 20th Century, workers fought for the right to work an 8-hour day. This brought the first shift in favour of an increase of after work hours. In the dawning of the 21st Century, the balance shifted again, with the advent of the mobile phone and in particular, the Blackberry. It became easier to continue working after hours and adversely harder to disengage when not at work.
There was yet another shift in the 2 000s, especially in the tech industries, where work hours could be brutal but where the workspace changed significantly to create a more holistic work environment.
Work relocation?
With the pandemic, there wasn’t much balance of which to speak – for obvious reasons – however, in itself, this period shifted the balance in another quite drastic direction. Aside from the forced remote work, work was at the home, in the home, with no possibility of separating home/work life. What this did do, though, was have workers create a virtual separation between work and home/life.
Has the Work / Life Balance changed?
Fortunately and unfortunately, it has. For many, there is no balance. Others, there is a balance but this is more forced than chosen. Others still, the balance has shifted due to circumstances and of their choosing.
What remains the same? Does anything?
There is one constant though. Whether you work from an office at home, have returned to an office, never left work due to being an essential worker, the necessity of having access to drinking water is vital. Maintaining good hydration habits have proven to aid one’s well-being, cognition and ability to make better decisions and life choices.
by Fern Shaw | May 4, 2022 | mains fed water cooler, water cooler, Water Coolers
AquAid’s high-volume bottle fed and mains fed water coolers are the perfect solution where there is a high demand for a constant supply of fresh drinking water – wherever the location: football grounds; offices; worksites, warehouses; medical rooms; colleges; workshops; hotels; varsities or schools.
Every AquAid Large Capacity Mains Fed Water Dispenser is designed for ease of operation and to run efficiently.
For illustrative purposes, we are looking at the High Capacity Mains-Fed Hydrator Water Cooler, as it has an extra-large reservoir – a point-of-use water dispenser specially designed for serving a large number of people.
With a dispense gap of 230mm, easily accommodating varying sizes of water containers, the Hydrator can dispense up to 40ℓ of chilled water each hour, a sufficient volume to fill 120 x 330ml bottles.
The Hydrator’s sturdy design, developed for use in high usage areas, also boasts Hygiene Guard silver impregnated dispense tap reduces bacteria transfer and a flood guard anti-leak device for added security.
And there you have it, cool drinking water on tap. All the clever little (and large) mechanisms silently operating behind the scenes, all the while ensuring that you – thirsty Thelma or Thaddeus – remain properly hydrated and super productive throughout your working day or night.
Synergy
Every installation of an AquAid mainsfed water cooler and each bottle of water replenished brings with it donations that are used to build more water wells – referred to as Elephant Pumps – for communities in water scarce regions across sub-Saharan Africa.
So, the next time you press a button and fill your water bottle, mug or glass, think about the fact that not only are you keeping yourself healthy and hydrated but also with that simple push, you will have directly contributed towards:
Another draught of clean drinking water pumped into a bucket or onto a banana plantation that will pay for school fees and;
Another child now has access to safe drinking water, which will help them better concentrate in school and;
Another community with readily available potable, productive water for use every day, for all generations, for many decades.
Rather marvellous, don’t you think?
by Fern Shaw | Aug 24, 2021 | Uncategorized
In a word, yes. They most likely are. With radical changes in work structures in multiple industries over the last two decades, so too has the water cooler station. Whereas before it may have been that the only ‘away from the office’ space was where the floor standing water cooler was (did that make the carrier of the desktop water cooler happy or unhappy we wonder?), as work styles and office space has changed, so too has the work environment.
Breakout spaces now aren’t only for hotels and conferencing venues or sports stadiums, but are, more and more, becoming a standard in any workspace – be that in a smaller office where partitioning is made use of, to larger organisations where a breakout area is a wholly separate room or even an entire floor in the largest businesses.
Are breakout spaces necessary at work?
Again, yes. A change in scenery, a creative space to reflect and think or a separate, more casual space where to retreat for a while when stress is high at work is what breakout spaces are all about.
Why are they necessary?
Breakout spaces not only reduce stress, they also enhance employee creativity and productivity, benefitting not only the individual but also the company overall. Any environment that reduces tension or creates a space where one can replenish their drinking water, defuse or relax is of instant benefit with potentially long-term benefits too.
Should your water cooler be in the breakout space?
Absolutely. Drinking water regularly is crucial to one’s ability to focus, concentrate and better perform throughout the working day. There is no better place for a water dispenser than in a breakout space. Moreover, if your organisation hasn’t yet gravitated towards such a space, then any easily accessible, ‘classic’ water cooler station will suffice.
