Afternoon work slump could be linked to hydration habits, expert says

Workers experiencing an afternoon slump could benefit from checking their fluid intake before automatically reaching for another coffee, according to hydration expert Yusuf Okhai.

Okhai, managing director at ION8, said that while there is no scientific evidence suggesting dehydration peaks at 3pm, the afternoon can provide a useful checkpoint for employees who may have gone several hours without drinking during a busy working day.

Okhai said: “There is no universal dehydration hour because everybody’s needs, activity levels and drinking habits are different.

“But 3pm is a useful time to pause and think about how much you have actually had to drink. If your bottle has barely been touched since the morning, hydration may have slipped off your list of priorities.”

Research has suggested mild dehydration can affect fatigue, mood and concentration in some people, although it does not establish dehydration as the cause of the typical afternoon dip.

One controlled study involving young women associated body-mass loss of around 1.36% with increased fatigue, headaches, difficulty concentrating and a greater perception of task difficulty, while most measures of cognitive performance were unaffected.

Separate research involving young men linked dehydration of around 1.59% with fatigue and changes in vigilance and working memory.

Other factors including sleep, circadian rhythms, diet, workload, stress and physical activity can also contribute to changes in energy and concentration throughout the working day.