Water is essential for your body, as it is vital for several critical functions – 60% of your body is water! For shiftworkers specifically, hydrating with water is important, as it’s also associated with improvements in fatigue, energy levels, and overall mood – all things that are impacted by non-traditional patterns of work. Water is also extremely important for your brain function, as dehydration is linked to lower alertness, short-term memory issues, poor vision, and mood disturbances (42).

While coffee and energy drinks provide energy, they are not a replacement for water, and healthy adults should aim to drink 2-3 litres of water each day. Consuming water in the form of sports drinks (e.g., Powerade) or adding supplements (e.g., electrolyte powder) can be a great way to hydrate and replenish your body, particularly if you work in environments where you expend a lot of energy or sweat a lot. However, be mindful that some forms of these may contain high amounts of sugar and/or caffeine.