Work days are a drought until 3 p.m.: In a recent survey, over a third of working Americans confessed they aren’t drinking most of their water until the late afternoon.
The survey of 2,000 employed Americans examined all things wellness and hydration to see how good and bad habits can make or break a work day.
According to the findings, although nearly all respondents (87%) agreed that getting enough hydration during the day, and especially in the morning, sets the tone for the entire day, 34% admitted they drink most of their water after 3:00 p.m. on a typical workday.
Conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Hint Water, the study asked workers how much water they need to drink by 10:00 a.m. to have a truly productive workday.
Respondents answered that they need to drink at least three glasses, or 24 ounces, of water by 10:00 a.m. to power through a productive day.
Coffee and Water Tie for First Drink of the Day
Yet, according to the results, working Americans confessed that they are as equally likely to reach for coffee first thing in the morning as they are to down a glass of water (both 37%).
However, Gen Z is the generation most likely to drink a glass of water after waking up (54%) while baby boomers are more likely than other generations to go for coffee (48%).
Looking at respondents’ daily water-to-coffee ratio as a whole, they’re drinking two cups of coffee, per workday, and only five glasses of water, or 40 ounces, on average, making for a caffeinated yet parched workforce.
In addition to hydration, the study also looked at other healthy habits, such as daily walks and regular breaks throughout the day, and found that wellness often takes a back seat to respondents’ 9 to 5s.
One in five respondents revealed they don’t take any walks (21%) or offline breaks (20%) throughout their workday and more than half (63%) suffer from regular headaches.
When asked where their headaches come from, respondents reported that the top culprits are emotional stress (49%), dehydration (41%) and fatigue (36%).
Seeing how all these factors impact productivity, employed Americans aim to cross five things off their do-do list, on average, during a standard eight hour workday. However, respondents reported that only about two-thirds of those tasks (65%) actually get checked off their list by the end of the day.
And looking beyond just work tasks, they’re also fitting in two workouts, two carpooling/driving commitments, one social meetup, one sports game or practice and one doctor/wellness appointment per week, on average.
Yet with so much to do and so little time, it’s no surprise that more than a quarter (26%) feel burnt out and 29% admitted that their work week leaves them so drained, that they have little energy left for anything outside of work.
In fact, more than half (54%) expressed that it feels nearly impossible to fit in healthy habits and wellness practices with everything else they have going on, with millennials being the most likely to report feeling this way (63%).
“As any working person can attest to, it’s incredibly hard to balance work to-do’s, extracurriculars and healthy living,” said Michael Pengue, chief executive officer at Hint Water. “The study shows that employed Americans are feeling overwhelmed by it all. And when trying to stay hydrated, drinking plain, unflavored water day after day can become boring and unexciting. That’s why adding flavor to otherwise uninteresting water can be a huge gamechanger.”
Uncovering the “why” behind Americans’ dehydration, respondents divulged that the main challenges they face when trying to stay properly hydrated are simply remembering to drink their water (50%) and becoming tired of plain, unflavored water (32%).
One in Five Lack Access To Clean Water
And more than one in five respondents (21%) disclosed they don’t even have access to clean, high-quality water.
Yet, the survey found that Americans are making an effort: To drink more water, 35% opt to drink flavored water and 46% carry portable water bottles wherever they go.
A quarter (25%) even like to try new water flavors whenever they can and 26% add additives and mixes to their water to keep things interesting.
“Amidst busy schedules, it’s more important than ever to stick to healthy basics — like drinking enough water,” said Pengue. “But what is ‘enough’ water? On average, respondents suggested that seven glasses of water, or 56 ounces, is a healthy amount of water to drink per day. However, the National Academy of Medicine recommends upwards of 70 ounces of water per day for healthy adults.
“To help meet this hydration goal, it’s important to make convenient, tasty hydration options a part of your schedule. Rather than having to go out of your way to meet your hydration needs, look for options that are both flavorful and convenient, so you’re better able to focus on your work and life.”
Survey methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 employed Americans; the survey was commissioned by Hint Water and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Jan. 17 and Jan. 21, 2025.
