Hydration
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Strategic hydration timing
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1
min

Pre-task drink

Keeps your thinking clear from start to finish.
Use this when
Before a meeting, a work session, or any task where slow thinking has a cost.
After this
Your focus and decision-making during the task will be steadier. Mild dehydration slows thinking before you feel thirsty. This prevents that from happening.
You will need
A full glass of water (300 to 500ml).
The why
Drinking 300 to 500ml of water 15 to 30 minutes before cognitively demanding tasks helps maintain cerebral blood flow and supports neurotransmitter activity behind focus and decision-making. Research from the University of East London found up to 14% improvement in reaction time and attention when participants drank water before tasks.
Reseach

Edmonds, C. J., Crosbie, L., Fatima, F., Hussain, M., Jacob, N., & Gardner, M. (2017). Dose-response effects of water supplementation on cognitive performance and mood in children and adults. Appetite, 108, 464–470. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2016.11.011