Good Tuesday Morning Y’all,

Ain’t No TIRED Like TEACHER TIRED!

In case you didn’t know (yes, I know you know)… teaching is exhausting. From the early-morning hustle to the late-night grading marathons, it feels like there’s never enough time to do everything. And too often, the first thing we sacrifice is sleep—that essential, non-negotiable, life-giving force that fuels our ability to show up as the best version of ourselves.

I get it. Been there, done that! But, in all honesty: you cannot pour from an empty cup. If you’re running on fumes, your patience is shorter, your creativity takes a hit, and your energy is nowhere to be found. You’re not just hurting yourself—you’re short-changing your students, your family, and your own potential. The best thing you can do for your classroom, your health, and your happiness is to prioritize sleep.

OK! So what can I do to make sure I get a good night’s sleep??? I’m so glad you asked!!!

As alwyas, if you find this info helpful, please share it with your teacher bestie!

Let’s quickly take a look at three strategies that will help you reclaim the rest you need to THRIVE.

1. Set a Non-Negotiable Bedtime (and Stick to It)

We set expectations for our students. We create schedules, hold them accountable, and emphasize routines because we know structure breeds success. Yet, when it comes to ourselves, we often ignore our own need for discipline. It’s time to change that.

Pick a bedtime—and I don’t mean a “suggested bedtime.” I mean a non-negotiable time when you shut everything down and commit to rest. Same time every night. No excuses. Your body thrives on routine. If you train yourself to wind down at the same time, you’ll start falling asleep faster, sleeping deeper, and waking up more refreshed.

💡 Pro Tip: Set an alarm one hour before bedtime as your “wind-down reminder.” That’s your cue to shut off screens, dim the lights, and start preparing your body for rest.

2. Create a Teacher-Friendly Nighttime Routine

I really wish it wasn’t the case, but… our teacher brains don’t just “turn off.” We lay in bed thinking about lesson plans, emails, that one kid who needs extra help, and whether or not we remembered to take the frozen chicken out for dinner tomorrow. The key to shutting down your overactive mind is a strong nighttime routine.

Try this:
✅ Brain Dump: Write down all the random thoughts swirling in your head. Put them on paper so your brain doesn’t feel the need to keep replaying them.
✅ Read Something Light: No lesson plans, no professional development books—just something enjoyable that signals to your brain that it’s time to unwind.
✅ Stretch or Breathe: A few minutes of deep breathing or light stretching can calm your nervous system and help your body relax.

Your nighttime routine should tell your body, “It’s time to rest now.” Make it intentional. Make it calming. And most importantly, make it consistent.

3. Set Boundaries With Work (Yes! The Grading Pile Can Wait)

This might be the hardest one, but it’s also the most necessary. The work will never be “done.” There will always be another email, another paper to grade, another lesson to tweak. But you? You are not replaceable. Your energy, your health, and your well-being are worth more than finishing every single task before bed.

Give yourself a hard stop time for work in the evening. Whether it’s 7:00 PM, 8:30 PM, or whatever works for your life, honor it. If the work isn’t done by then, it waits until tomorrow. Period. Your sleep is more important than squeezing in one more task.

💡 Challenge: Ask yourself, “If I don’t set boundaries, what will I have left to give tomorrow?” If the answer is not much, it’s time to prioritize rest over relentless work.

Bottom Line, Y’all…

A well-rested teacher is a better teacher. Period. You deserve to wake up feeling energized, focused, and ready to lead. You deserve to have patience and joy in the classroom instead of dragging through the day. You deserve to enjoy your personal life outside of work without constantly feeling drained.

This job is hard. Don’t make it harder by running on empty. Set your bedtime, build a nighttime routine, and protect your rest like your career depends on it—because, honestly, it does.

Tonight, choose sleep. Tomorrow, wake up stronger. Your students, your family, and most importantly, YOU will thank you for it.

Now go get some rest, teacher! You’ve got lives to change tomorrow. 💙💪🏽

~Mitch

🎵 Teacher Tunes Tuesday 🎶 

This month we are embracing the golden age of power chords and epic vocals! This playlist is your ultimate Gen-X time machine, packed with the legendary sounds of Night Ranger, Van Halen, Kenny Loggins, Journey, Skid Row, Heart, and so much more. Whether you're grading papers, cruising with the windows down, or just decompressing from a long day, these iconic anthems will take you back to a time when mixtapes were made with love (and maybe a little duct tape).

So, grab your Walkman (or, you know, your phone), hit play, and let the big hair, screaming guitars, and sing-at-the-top-of-your-lungs choruses do the rest. 🤘🔥 #GenXForever

Share TCN, Earn Some Swag!

Would you like to unlock a fun and fancy membership to Homeroom Swag—our ever-growing inventory of 150+ fun, entertaining, and educational bulletin board letter and number sets?

Here’s how: share your personal subscription link (“Click To Share” button below) with your teacher tribe. When three of your teacher besties subscribe to The Classroom Newsletter, you’ll gain free access to Homeroom Swag’s treasure trove of designs! It’s our way of saying thank you for spreading the love—and for being part of this amazing community of educators. These resources are designed to make your classroom pop with creativity while encouraging student participation and interaction.

NOTE: This offer is for subscribers only. The link is in this issue’s email that was sent directly to subscribers. WANNA JOIN? Simply click on the “Subscribe” button at the top of the page, and BOOM…You’re In!