Nutrition and Sleep Impacting Student Performance on Trips
School trips can also become an exciting opportunity for the students to learn, out of school, but the journey itself is tiring, both physically and mentally for students, which often affects their performance. Poor diet and lack of sleep can cause them to be sleepy, unfocused, and even act out, and overall, cause them to miss out on enjoying the trip. The following details how sleep and nutrition influence students’ performance during trips, as well as tips to keep students energized and focused.
It was found throughout the research that both the time of the day when students feel best and the amount of sleep a sleep-deprived student receives have an impact on student performance.
Cognitive Ability & Learning Recall
Sufficient sleep is essential not only for the making of memories but for the organization of memories. Poor sleep can make students:
- Have trouble remembering none on tours and activity
- Much less followed a guide or educator.
- Have lower problem-solving and critical-thinking skills
- Mood & Behavior
Lack of sleep can cause:
- Greater than usual irritability and tolerance
- Trouble getting along with group mates and chaperone
- Less interest in activity while on travel
Physical Exhaustion
The long days of walking, exploring, and learning demand a lot of energy. Sleep deprivation can cause:
- Reduced stamina and tolerance
- Higher likelihood of experiencing motion sickness and headaches
- Slower response times, along with related security worries.
- When it comes to nutrition, there are so many possibilities.
Sustained Energy Levels
Lunches with their preferred foods that are balanced and contain healthy fats, protein, and high-fiber foods that keep students’ energy levels constant all day long in school. There is also a negative impact on students’ energy level if a student misses a meal and has a high sugar intake and students won’t be able to concentrate properly.
Focus & Concentration
Beyond that, poor nutrition can even impair brain function. Foods rich in omega-3s, antioxidants, and complex carbohydrates improve brain function and alertness, while excessive consumption of foods with poor nutritional value can lead to brain fogginess and lack of alertness.
Immune defense Travel is a new environment for students, and it can also put them at increased risk for illness. Vitamins C and D. The immune system can become fortified against most common ailments during and after traveling by supplementing it with iron and probiotic diets.
Strategies for ensuring healthy sleep and nutrition while traveling:
- Encouraging good sleep habits
- Establish a lights-out time: give students a minimum of 7-9 hours of quality sleep a night.
- Limit screen time before sleep: ask students to refrain from using a phone or a tablet an hour before sleep.
- Small naps on the bus: in long journey periods, compensatory sleep
- Ensure comfortable sleeping facility: make sure hotels and lodges have proper sleeping arrangements with minimum noise levels and good sleeping linen.
Supporting Proper Nutrition
- Promote Balanced Nutrition: in collaboration with tour operators, healthy offerings with aspects of proteins, fruits and vegetables, and whole grain foods should be planned.
- Offer Healthy Snacks: Replace chips and candy with fruit, nuts, and yogurt.
- Encourage Hydration: Encourage students to hydrate frequently with water, especially when students are outside.
- Limit Sugary & Caffeinated Drinks: Minimize soda and energy drinks, which lead to energy crashes and dehydration.
Providing students with the opportunity to allow school trips to work — sleep and nutrition play an important key. Teachers and chaperones can keep students in a sharp, energized, and focused mental state on the trip through adequate sleep and healthy foods. There is a lot of planning that goes into it, and with meticulous planning, school trips can be both informative and enjoyable, giving away a lifelong source of information and memories to students.
The right school travel partner can make all the difference between an ordinary trip and a truly memorable experience. At Student Adventures, our expertise, innovation, and dedication set us apart. With professional in-house consultants, innovative tools like TripApp, and the comprehensive TripWheel, we make every stage of your trip simple, easy, and effortless.
We hope this guide has given you valuable insight into why we are the best partner for your next school trip. Ready to get started? Call Student Adventures at 1-877-873-7550