Many Fanshawe College students start their day with early morning classes, but having a lack of sleep with early classes may affect students’ focus and attendance.
“I prefer not to attend the morning class if it is not important. I try to skip it and save my energy for the other classes,” said Fanshawe student Kulvir Multani.
“Not on everyday basis, but if I am, I’m sleeping late at night or I have some late activities to do,” she said.
Multani said she doesn’t sleep well because she has to think about waking up early.
“Whenever I have a morning class, I always think at night oh I have to get up early at so-and-so time and I cannot sleep well. That’s why I feel lazy in the morning, and that’s why I think I get late to the classes,” she said.
photo: Kulvir Multani, PSW, year 1. (Torey Joseph Legarri
Multani said that catching the bus makes it difficult to make it to class on time.
“Definitely getting up and preparing for the classes, reaching to the busses or on time. And in the winters, it will get like worse and worse,” she said.
She said that 12 p.m. would be the perfect time for her.
“I prefer to start classes from 12, I guess. So that will be perfect for me,” she said.
A 2017 McGill University study found that students with earlier start times got less sleep and were more likely to feel tired in the morning. The findings raise questions about how early classes may affect Fanshawe student’s sleep, concentration and ability to stay focused throughout the school day.
The study said that 9:30 a.m. start times would be more beneficial to students because it gives them an opportunity to get more sleep in order to focus better.
“Real life people have to go to work sometimes earlier than 9 a.m., so one thing I try to do is encourage them to make sure they’re getting to bed earlier, and getting up in good time, and eating breakfast,” said Nancy French, pre-media and dual credit professor.
photo: Nancy French, pre-media and dual credit professor. (Torey Joseph Legarrie)
French’s earliest class is 9 a.m. and she finds that the time of day does affect students’ concentration.
“I do notice that more students come in for the 9 o’clock class tired and more disengaged than they do for say an 11 o’clock class,” she said.
“Cause I find if people aren’t fueled by breakfast, they are not engaged either,” she said.
“When I’m tired its really hard for me to understand things and really do things at that time,” said Fanshawe student Kignan Samgha.
(Torey Joseph Legarrie)
She said that she thinks later classes would help her prepare.
“Yes, because I’ll be more prepared for classes,” she said.
She said that her earliest class is 8 a.m., and she would prefer a later time.
“After 10,” she said.
