Productivity – how much we do in a day… let’s consider what we do in a given 24 hours: it can be an endless round of rushing, school runs, work, rushing, picking up from school, rushing and, sometimes an unwelcome hic-cup to the specified routine can leaves us all feeling a little frazzled.

And yet, as humans, we are innately tuned to keep driving ourselves forward, to keep reaching for bigger and better things. This in itself, is not a bad thing. But, within tis quagmire of responsibility and drive, the need to increase our productivity and achievements within a day, week, month or year can leave us feeling a little bereft, run down and adrift.

Simple solutions mean so much

And yet, all around us is the elixir of life. It is a simple structure, possibly one of the simplest known to man: a transparent liquid, it is odourless and in its most natural form, tasteless. Consisting of two hydrogen atoms attached to a lone oxygen atom, liquid water is an extraordinary substance. As one scientific headline states, water is not a bit player in life, but the main headline.

Human cells need water to function and yet, many of us overlook how and when we include water in our day and so, as we seek to maintain momentum and improve productivity, it seems that the answer is staring us in the face – we need to drink more water.

Hatch a plan!

So, before you reach for the painkillers to numb the headache that has been troubling you all day, or book a GP appointment to talk about your low mood and dizzy spells, why not take a look at how water can help you in living life to the full…

• Fatigue buster and energy booster – forget energy drinks with caffeine for the ‘boost’ you say you need, simply keeping your body hydration levels topped up can be a huge step forward to maintain energy levels through the day, and fighting off fatigue. Productivity in work and life required focus and concentration, something that is difficult to do with a headache, yawning, tiredness and general feeling below par.
• Weight maintenance and loss – reducing fat intake, and keeping an eye on the calories is something we all need to do, but when you are feeling ‘hungry’, what do you do? Reach for a healthy snack or reach for a glass of water? Studies have shown that for many people, they confuse the feeling of thirst with hunger so before reaching for the fruit bowl, drink a glass of water.
• Gets rid of nasty stuff – toxins are all around us; we consume them physically, as well as inadvertently breathing them in and so, our hard-working organs need some help. Water is that liquid that can grab all these toxins and help the body to flush them out of the system. This, of course, makes us feel much better and – hey presto! – your productivity levels rise as a result.
• The skin– there is a saying that the skin, the biggest organ of the body, has a habit of showing us (and the world!) our inner state in terms of health; if your skin is poor and complexion dull, you will find that drinking more clean, fresh water is beneficial, the results of which will surpass results from any anti-aging treatment!
• Regularity – your ‘system’ is constantly working; the breakfast you ate, it is processing as you work. The working lunch and the delights of your evening meal, along with all the other bits and bobs through the day are being consumed and processed by your system. Our inner workings are a constant whirl, as are we, so why not reward it by making its function easier, by drinking more water? You will feel better and, this affects your productivity…

(Can you see the picture emerging?)

• Immune system – and as well as processing everything you throw at it, your body is also protecting you from the germs and infections that are around it every day, all of the time. Water won’t stop you being ill but, keeping your system hydrated with water, making sure you look after yourself, will mean less days off work, less down time and less lost productivity.
• Headaches! – do you have a friend, relative or colleague that constantly complains of headaches? Do they have a supply of various painkillers? Do you see them drink water? The likelihood is that the vast majority of dull, throbbing headaches we have are a sign of the onset of dehydration. Drink water, regularly, throughout the day and these headaches may no longer exist!
• Cramps and sprains – water if the body’s lubricant and it doesn’t have enough, it will use it to keep the core of itself working, meaning that muscles and ligaments will be last on the list; they will have just enough to keep them moving but, they are not as elastic. Playing hard sports means that ligaments and muscles can be starved quickly of hydrating fluid; the answer is simple… more water!
• Mood – no one would suggest that water is the cure for all mental health issues but, if you feel your mood suddenly ‘sag’ for no apparent reason, it could be your brain is struggling because it is not as hydrated as it should be.

It is just good stuff – from the office water cooler, from the tap or bottled at source, water is an all-round good liquid that is essential for every human body… and yet, so many of us ignore it!

Water, as we know, is a liquid we ALL need and, according to various pieces of research and studies, the vast majority of us do not drink enough. Some people seem to be in the habit of consuming more fluid in a day than others, and yet some people seem to survive quite adequately on a cup of tea here, and another small drink later in the day etc.

But, on the surface we all may ‘look’ the same, it can soon become apparent by carrying out our own water-drinking ‘experiment’ that increasing the amount we drink, and when, can have a real and very positive impact on the way we feel and function in the day.

Why do some people not drink enough?

There are time, however, when it seems impossible not to be able to drink more than we do. Work – busy, fractious, tense, non-stop – can mean that getting time to drink is difficult; remembering to drink within this time frame when there is so much else to do and, admit it, we all know that we drink IN, needs to come OUT… and for some people, running back and forth to the loo every 5 minutes can be more than an inconvenience!

But, drinking water at the right time, can be a huge help in ensuring you get the maximum impact from re-hydrating. And it seems from studies and experiments that one of the best times to drink water is first thing in the morning…

Sleep and hydration

Our bodies are complex ‘machines’; finely balanced, they need all the right ingredients and bits of ‘fuel’ in order to function at their best. They can ‘survive’ in some cases, where some things are lacking but we all know that a good night’s sleep, good food and exercise all make us feel and function much better.

Fluid is one of these key ingredients in ensuring that our bodies are able to function. We need sleep too, even though we once thought that this was to rest the brain, it now seems that sleep is to rest us physically as the bran is just as active as we sleep, as is it when our eyes are open! It seems strange to think we concentrate and focus our minds as we sleep, but we do.

But something else happens as we sleep. Slowly, over the course of an eight period of shut-eye, we dehydrate. Not because we sweat profusely or any such thing, but because our bodies need fluid in order to function. Just like driving a car down the road, or letting it idle on the driveway consumes fuel, albeit at a slower rate, our bodies consume water.

However, we don’t drink as we sleep. And so, it seems that on waking we should replenish this fluid store within us immediately. Those that do this say that it helps their energy levels no end; it stops them sliding, making the rest of the day far easier in terms of maintaining these energy levels.

How much?

Various studies seem to point out that 16oz of water drank at the point you wake up is the optimum amount. There are also various scientific studies that suggest, depending on weight and height etc. that some people could and should consume more, but opting to drink 16oz is a great way to start your day…

1. Your metabolism is the speed at which your body works internally, as it processes food and liquid etc., throughout the day. Drinking a large glass of water first thing in the morning, it is suggested, gives your metabolism a significant boost!
2. When you awake from an 8-hour sleep, you are technically dehydrated, although it is true that we rarely wake up thirsty!

• Kidneys are the organise that process and discard all the toxins within the body; they work incredibly hard, especially when we drink alcohol and so water is beneficial in helping the kidneys flush out toxins etc. Doing this first thing in the morning is known to be beneficial to kidney function.

1. The brain, the most important organ in the body, is 75% water; if you are not hydrated to a decent level, your brain may not function to the best of its ability. If you suffer from sudden drops in mood or concentration, drink water!
2. And, for many us, maintaining a healthy weight is a daily battle but, many people who drink water at the right time, from a large glass first thing in the morning and maintaining hydration levels through the day, will tell you that drinking plenty of water makes them eat less! Thirst is commonly mistaken for hunger…

The human body is 72% water…

… and yet, we seem to starve it of the very thing that it needs most – water to maintain its smoothing running and functioning throughout the day.

So why not kick start your day with a large glass of water? You will be amazed at how great you start to feel and how quickly this new habit will stick!

“Is it time to ditch the kettle?” is not a question you may have asked yourself or, your staff team – in fact, to suggest to the team that the kettle has to go, could be the stuff of turmoil and great tension.

However, let us be a little mercenary for a moment… an employee decides they want a cup of tea. They make their way to the kitchen, cup in hand and flick the kettle switch. They may carry on an do a few small ‘jobs’ in the time it takes the kettle to boil or, they may take this few minutes – shall we say 5 minutes? – to think through ideas and thoughts on their current project (or plan their next holiday… it really doesn’t matter what they are thinking, to be honest!).

So, 5 minutes per employee; shall we say 3 cups of hot beverage within a working day? That is 15 minutes per employee, over 5 days a week, which equates to 75 minutes or 1 hour, 15 minutes waiting for the kettle to boil, per employee.

BUT, before you cry foul and suggest that cups of tea, coffee or hot chocolate are with banned, cut down to 2 a day, or your chain your staff to their seat/chairs/counters etc., there is another option… a mains fed hot water boiler!

As important as…

… the networked computer system being up and running, the provision of a kettle is important to staff morale and well-being, as working in an environment that is clean, light, airy and warm.

However, focusing just on the negative impacts of the kettle boiling ritual on your business is actually missing the bigger picture.

Consuming energy

Information and marketing from various energy saving agencies and consumer organisations point out that boiling the kettle actually costs you more in terms of money than possibly any other electrical appliance within the home.

And that is at home; imagine the cost of the kettle being flicked on and off throughout the day at your work premises? Energy is expensive and, it will show no signs of decreasing in cost within the next few years either; the opposite is likely to be true, with the cost per kilowatt increasing year-on-year.

Energy saving is about using energy wiser and, in many cases, companies are beginning to take this more seriously, by looking at how they consumer energy as well as looking at alternative sources of power. Just because a company is generating its own power with solar panels, doesn’t mean it can ‘waste’ this valuable power on the kettle!

Saving energy

And so, setting aside the ‘5 minutes wasted at the kettle’ argument (no one believes it anyway!), the over-riding benefit of a hot water boiler is this – is consumes far less energy and produces boiling water with each twist of the tap, instantly; no hanging around, no sucking monster amounts of expensive energy to boil a kettle for a lonesome cup of tea.

Productivity

However, there are times when the kettle can form a welcome calming influence in times of stress, anxiety and general crisis.

But, the hot water boiler can perform this function just as well. Some would even go on to suggest that a water boiler can help in the productivity of a workforce… think of this scenario:

Staff have struggled in through cold, ice and snow on the ground to get in to work where, waiting for them is a hot drink, instantly poured and served from the boiler. Fresh water, freshly boiled and instant.

So, the ease and convenience of a water boiler goes without saying and yet, there are so many office spaces out there, factories and production units that rely on a domestic kettle to boil litre upon litre of boiling water, one after another.

In a fast-paced environment, this can be a problem. Some people might sacrifice a hot drink during the day as it takes just too long to whip the kettle in to shape; just imagine the ease of walking up to boil, flicking that tap and filling your cup with boiling water. You could be back at your desk within seconds, never missing the opening the Japanese stock exchange or the important phone call, or the email or…

You get the picture. Water boilers are useful, convenient and coveted within the workplace. They are relatively inexpensive to purchase and are certainly far cheaper to operate that the ‘ordinary’ kettle. Better still, they can be bought to ‘match the size’ of your organisation, from the small workforces to making drinks on an ‘industrial’, catering scale!

Take another look… and we know that once you have one, you will wonder why you never bought one sooner!

What does and does not motivate employees can be somewhat of a mystery. What makes a positive impact on one person, may not have the same positive reception with another, however, experts within the field of workforce motivation will tell you there are five key factors that impact on all employees.

In fact, it gets no more complicated than having a system that consistently awards employee achievements, whether that is hitting monthly sales targets or a 100% attendance record in a given stretch of time. Making sure that every employee can achieve the same rewards is also an underpinning factor in employee motivation.

But, as a company, what are the 5 factors in motivating employees do you need to be aiming for?

1.   Build satisfaction

Every company will now how difficult it can be to attract the right people to the vacancies. And this is where you need to start building satisfaction.

You need to create an atmosphere within your organisation that encourages employees to aspire to excellence; you want and need talented employees, thus providing them with the platform from which they can develop and progress is one factor within employee motivation. A satisfied employee is a motivated one.

Don’t just aim for the ‘happy workforce’ scenario as this is paying lip-service; when the chips are down and you need everyone to pull together, you may find the ‘happy workforce’ is superficial…

2.   Genuine appreciation

We hear it all the time; whispers around the water coolers, rumors in the staff room and tittle-tattle round the kettle that all point to one thing – some employees in some organisations only ever hear from the upper management layers when they have done something wrong!

Year after year, month and month, week after week there are faithful and loyal employees who are never late, don’t cause ‘issues’, follow policies and protocols as dictated to them and yet… something is lacking.

However, note the word ‘genuine’. A packet of biscuits or a gold clock are great but, employees like to be told they are appreciated and valued. Anything from a heartfelt message delivered verbally, in a card, via email etc. has far more of a feel good factor and be genuine!

If that employee ‘saved the day’ by working diligently on a new account to get a monster load of information over to the prospective new client, then tell them this! Without them, it would not have happened, so why hold back with genuine appreciation?

3.   Recognition

Know you have satisfied and appreciated employees, your workforce is starting to develop wings. Recognising individuals within this larger workforce is important too, as is blanket praise and satisfaction.

Everyone has a different style; some employees, for example, are motivated by ‘seeing their name in lights’. Some industries, especially sales-driven, will have ‘sales person of the month’ etc. in an attempt to motivate people to gain the coveted award. And, this is no bad thing.

In other industries or sectors, having a genuine coveted title each month may take more imagination but, the aim of such an award is one thing – creating emotional payoff for employee’s actions. Relatively inexpensive but with a huge impact, what recognition award to system could you create?

4.   Inspiration

Now we are beginning a journey into the ‘basics’ of a company but yet, despite these ingredients being fundamental to the recipe of success, leadership and company ethos are not always something that are immediately obvious within a company or business.

Employees need and want strong leadership, from someone who is fair and consistent. The company needs a mission, it needs a goal and every employee needs to understand these goals and aims. They need to appreciate their role within this firm and how they drive it forward too.

If they are inspired and ‘on-board’, then this clear vision also acts as an important ingredient of employee motivation.

5.   Compensation

In the main, employees are motivated to give their time to a business and are compensated for doing so financially. The majority of employees are motivated by money; from earning handsome commission each month on top of basic salaries, to being paid over time and bonuses.

There are other tangible benefits too, such as X number of weeks holiday and additional benefits such as a company vehicle, free or reduced travel, staff cards for % off purchases in certain shops etc. In fact, there are a whole heap of rewards that can be used to ‘compensate’ employees, and thank them for being part of your company, contributing in the way that they do.

However, at the start of the article, we alluded to the individual nature of employees and how some actions will motivate some, and yet leave other employees feeling a little ‘cold’ or ‘not bothered’. These 5 motivation factors will not suit or motivate everyone – experts agree on this point – but, combining them and using them to underpin the company attitude towards its workforce will not have a detrimental effect.