To wonder how we survived without constantly drinking water while working in previous decades?

[Chinsupmeloves]

A bit lighthearted but also a serious question!

Looking back at all the jobs I've had from age 16, working while at university and career after, it wasn't commonplace to have a Stanley or filled bottle nearby. We had breaks and mostly had a quick coffee and a food, same at lunchtime. No one took bottles of water, hot drinks or cans, that was it! At school also, juice at break and lunch then drink water at home.

A) On the one hand I feel the obsession with keeping hydrated has been propelled by the manufacturers of drinking vessels, especially with the imprinted quantities for times of the day, insulated to keep cool and so on. From this POV it seems OTT when people are walking around a supermarket with their bottles with the fear their bodies may shrivel up. In schools, having them on their desks, the bottle flipping, guzzling down a litre of juice from home in the first 10 mins of a lesson then desperate for the toilet, stating it's a human right to drink til you busrt! In addition the sales of plastic bottles of water to continue to carry around, you should see the bins overflowing with them in every classroom, so much for encouraging environmental values.

B) I've also realised yes it is important to keep hydrated during the day and we need more than a few cups of coffee as fluid to keep us sustained. I was one of the few, as a teacher, who would bring in a small carton of juice to sip at (days before reusable were used for anyrhing than to clip on your bike) as I got thirsty! I was however told off, that I shouldn't be drinking those few sips during lessons, yes truth. It was only a bit as drinking more would mean I would need to go to the loo, which I knew was impossible at break times when on duty or lunch when I had meetings, detentions, extra tuition. To walk to the staff toilets meant 2 blocks away outside, flights of stairs and a queue, so it was a scheduled comfort.

Back to the point...

AIBR Drinking during breaks and lunch is perfectly adequate, no need for constant sipping, especially in schools where it can cause so much disruption by those who take the mick.

AIBU We need to consistently sip to help us with talking, feeling well and focus.

As an adult I now value being able to have a bottle nearby at work, in the car on long journeys, but not a constant need everywhere I go. Xxx

Yanbu. I agree completely lol but suspect we will be in the minority. I was working today and noticed the amount of colleagues who own massive 2l plastic bottles with straws and I don't know why but they are so fucking huge I find them quite ridiculous. Also quite disgusting. There's no way you can clean those straws properly.

I think this may be the real reason why the Inca Empire disappeared - lack of Stanley cups🥛

YANBU. The same goes for snacking. As a child of the 70s and starting work 1980, we managed no problem. And before someone comes along and says we were all dehydrated or starving, we really weren’t.

I get it, it is a change over past times but change is not always bad. I have a 1L bottle (and wash the straw with a brush) of water and it helps me keep hydrated when I now WFH but also It means my timesheets show I don’t take lunches, work longer and also the video calls don’t allow the very short breaks I used to be able to take for bathroom or drink breaks and so I am working more and trying to stay healthy(alive) with water during the calls. If water drinking is such a big issue in your work days, I would say you are very lucky. There are much worse issues to deal with.

I agree. I think a lot of schools have reached a tipping point (often literally) and most classes I’ve worked in now have them together in a box where children can go and take the occasional swig.

But yes, I’ve often seen 5 year olds sent in with huge bottles they can barely hold up!

(I’ve sometimes been tempted to pre-load my reusable coffee cup with a dash of Kahlua before I leave home 😜)

All this over drinking is putting tremendous strain on the kidneys. It will be interesting to see the outcome by late middle/old age for this population.

Yes I agree with you, we never had water bottles in school and hardly consumed water as much as current generation.

Can’t be any worse than the prolific UTIs in the current elderly population

I think lots of industries used to have numerous cups of tea/coffee (and a cigarette!) on the go during the working day.

We do live in a very ‘Now’ society culturally though these days, 24/7 news, continuous snacking, immediate phone access to just check something quickly or be entertained, so the water just fits into that, and actually is a positive thing for us.

Yep, I work in a school and every single lesson disrupted by kids who have downed a full water bottle demanding to go to the toilet. And the complaints from parents if you dont let them is rediculous.

I think all the supping is working as an adult pacifier because everyone is so stressed.

My parents weren’t concerned with sun exposure or hydration when I was younger. I suffered from severe heatstroke multiple times. I remember when I was about 4/5 falling asleep in my parents bed in the middle of summer and waking up in hospital

I had constant headaches at school….turns out dehydration has this effect I. Me. We weren’t allowed to drink during lessons and just before lunch or last period I’d have a banging headache. When I drank more the headaches stopped. I have a 500ml cup at my desk that I refill throughout the day,

It was normal historically to drink loads of weak beer, then tea, now water.

It was only kids who weren't allowed in schools.

Yanbu, it’s become an obsession, but just one of many in modern life and unlike many of the others, this one is harmless enough.

I like that my DC drink lots of water. My water bottle sits on my desk & I forget to drink thanks to the few sips is fine all day upbringing (my DM is constantly on how ridiculous my DC having water bottles are instead of toughing it out in 30+ degree heat)! I'm constantly noticing my body is paying for it, too. Everything down to your teeth are affected (got into trouble with the dentist!!).

The ridiculous water bottles is just companies finding a way to make a profit. The bigger & more noticeable sell better. DC aren't allowed to get up during lessons so learn to go to the loo on breaks.

I grew up in a hot climate with no aircon yet at school we didn't have bottled water or breaks to go get a drink! I'd look forward to an ice lolly at lunchtime. At home it was cups of tea for the adults. I drank diluted cordial mainly.

@maddiemookins16mum

so true, kids snacking constantly

I suspect I might have diabeties or something because I constantly need to be drinking

Surely its a balance ... being better hydrated is better for us all overall. Being too hydrated also a issue. You find your limit.

I’m 36 and I remember being so horribly thirsty in primary school. The only thing we could drink from was a disgusting shared cup that was leftover from art lessons and caked in old paint.

I’m pretty sure free access to water (and toilets) is a good thing for kids and everyone else. Some people will complain about any changes from “back in their day”, it seems!

I’m mixed on this one. It’s definitely done overboard but I was a child in the 80s/90s and do recall getting thirsty and having to find water somewhere, queue for the water fountain at school and barely be able to drink more than a trickle before you had to step aside for the next child, etc. I think having a water bottle in your school bag is a step up from then, but the Stanley’s, other beverages, constant drinking is overkill. I’m a hypocrite though because I talk a lot in my job and am constantly drinking water, coffee and tea all day.

Everyhere i worked it was encouraged to drink and I was born in 1975 we were allowed to drink in school we had water fountains plus our milk and a drink with our school lunches

Wait, what? Aren't your kidneys designed to deal with drinking water? Unless someone is downing 5l a day, I thought it was good for your kidneys (and the rest of the system - bladder, bowel etc) to be well hydrated.

All the people I know who are 55+ drink about 12 cups of tea a day, so I don't think being well hydrated is new? Just a different form.