You might wonder what adequate daily water intake has to do with being a good writer. In fact, millions of people go through their career and home routines in a state of chronic dehydration. Most don’t even realize it. When you begin to understand the effects that chronic dehydration has on the body, you’ll also understand the reason behind the idea that authors should stay properly hydrated.
Do you often feel sluggish during the day, like you don’t have enough energy to do what you need to do? Are you irritable? Do you get headaches? Are brain fog and lack of focus issues that you frequently experience? Perhaps you’ve even felt light-headed on occasion, or dizzy? These are all symptoms of chronic dehydration.
Your writer’s block might mean you are not properly hydrated
In addition to feeling thirsty or having a dry mouth, cognitive delay or impairment is a primary symptom of chronic dehydration. If you sit down to write but your brain “hurts,” and you struggle to come up with even the most basic ideas, you might think you have writer’s block. The thing about writer’s block, however, is that there is often an underlying cause.
In many cases, chronic dehydration may be the culprit. When we are properly hydrated, we feel energized and can think clearly. Our brains are hydro powered, which means brain cells need water to be able to function. If you’re dehydrated, you will experience memory loss, difficulty processing thoughts and the other symptoms mentioned earlier in this post. It makes sense, then, that writer’s block might be caused by dehydration.
You need food, as well as water, for proper hydration
Drinking enough water daily is a key to staying properly hydrated. However, it’s also important to eat foods that contain a lot of water, like melons, berries and leafy greens. Surprisingly, you can drink endless amounts of water and not be hydrated if the water is not getting into your cells. Salt intake breaks down the outer layer of cells so that water can enter.
If you want to write a book but have been struggling to achieve your daily writing goals, and it’s not due to a lack of time availability, consider conducting an assessment to determine if you are properly hydrated. The good news is that even if you’re not, you can begin taking immediate steps to rectify the problem. Avoid high amounts of caffeine (I.e. coffee, soda, energy drinks), as well as alcohol and other products that deplete hydration. Try to develop better hydration habits, and you might be surprised at how quickly your writer’s block goes away!
