How I Stay Productive & Awake for My Students as a Mom (No, It’s Not Coffee)

If meaningful life experiences make us rich, motherhood and teaching have lined my pockets with gold. But sleep debt—that was the hole draining me dry. Between pregnancy discomfort, toddler wake-ups, and early school mornings, I was exhausted when I needed to be sharp.

I tried it all—melatonin, ditching caffeine, strict screen-time limits—but nothing stuck. So when I first heard about RISE, an app that claimed it could help me better understand my sleep patterns and energy rhythms, I was skeptical, but I just needed something—anything—that might help me reclaim my energy.

It felt like a long shot, but I figured it was worth a try. Here’s what happened:

1. It tracks your real sleep debt, so you can start recovering

For moms and anyone waking through the night, it’s easy to underestimate how much rest you’re missing. RISE calculates your actual sleep debt by tracking how much rest you need versus how much you’re getting. It uses data your phone is already collecting (and a wearable device if you wish) to estimate your actual sleep need and compare it to how much sleep you’re getting over the past 14 days. 

At first, I wasn’t sure how helpful it would be to “see a number”—but once I saw my real sleep debt laid out clearly, it finally clicked. I could understand what was happening and make small, effective changes to start catching up and feeling better.

2. It helps you plan your day around your energy peaks, not fight against them

RISE doesn’t just tell you how tired you are—it shows you when you’ll have the most energy and when you’ll need to take it easy. It maps out your circadian rhythm each day based on your sleep and wake times, so you can plan smarter. 

Skeptical me thought, “Can a phone app really predict my energy?” But when I started using it to plan the flow of my lessons, chores at home, and even toddler activities, I noticed a huge difference. Teaching while tired is hard enough—knowing when I’ll naturally feel more alert has helped me make the most of my day, and it’s obvious that my students are responding well to it. 

3. It’s built for real life—pregnancy, parenting, and all

Pregnancy exhaustion hits different, and RISE accounts for that. It’s not about strict routines or perfect sleep hygiene—it’s about meeting you where you are and helping you make gentle, realistic adjustments. 

One night, that might mean turning in a little earlier; another, it’s just avoiding bright light late in the evening. RISE gives advice that fits into mom life, without guilt, and I’ve never felt more seen—or supported—by a sleep tool.

4. My new bedtime is my best new hack for feeling good

You may have heard chatter about how RISE sometimes recommends bedtimes and wake times that feel totally unexpected—but somehow, they work. It’s totally personalized based on your life and needs. 

For me, that looked like a 9:15 PM bedtime (yes, really) and a 5:45 AM wake-up. If you’re not a parent, that might sound bananas, but it actually felt relieving for me to stop fighting my need for sleep and start adjusting to what my body’s asking of me. I’m more energized than I’ve been in months. And, I won’t go to bed at 9:15 for the rest of my life—RISE will adapt with my needs. 

Ready to RISE feeling amazing?

If you’re juggling early mornings, late-night wake-ups, or just plain exhaustion, RISE can help you take control of your energy again. It’s science-backed, mom-approved, and totally doable—even during pregnancy. 

It wasn’t an instant fix, but step-by-step, it helped me sleep smarter, not harder—and now, I’m finally showing up fully for my students and my family.