Like a lot of people, yes—I’ve tested AI to see if it could lighten my workload.

Every time, I’ve ended up disappointed. In the 15 years since I started, my work has shifted from “just a blog” to a full-scale online business that I mostly run alone. The pressure is real, and shortcuts are tempting.

I tried using AI for blog posts... it gave wrong info, clunky phrasing, not my voice, and hours of editing. No time saved.
 

I tried it for emails and social posts, fine at first, until you realize everything starts sounding the same. Same cadence, same buzzwords, same overused emojis. Once you notice it, you can’t unsee it.
 

Still determined, I asked it to analyze my Facebook ads. It walked me through downloading reports, which I did, then spit out two paragraphs of “Some ads worked and some didn’t.” #NotHelpful.
 

When I pushed for specifics, it gave me data that was just plain inaccurate. Finally, it listed four ads to kill or duplicate, complete with headlines. Except those ads didn’t even exist in my account. I wasted a Thursday night and still didn’t have answers.

When I told my husband the story, his first response was: “Why would you even do that? You have no idea what personal data you just fed it.” Good point.

Then there’s the bigger picture: AI runs on massive data centers that use staggering amounts of water and electricity. Every time a person does a "chatgpt session" it depletes our planet of 1-2 liters of drinkable water. The environmental reasons alone are why I've vowed not to use it until they get that part figured out.

Here’s what all that taught me: there are no shortcuts. The only people insisting “AI is the future” are usually selling AI or AI-related products.

And that brings me to IEPs.

If AI can’t even summarize my ad report correctly, how could we possibly trust it with something as nuanced, high-stakes, and deeply human as an IEP? IEPs are about children, real kids with real struggles and real futures. They require judgment, empathy, and context. “Close enough” isn’t good enough. And beyond that, putting student info into AI is a privacy nightmare waiting to happen.

Being a teacher right now is…hard. But even if I were looking to change jobs or nearing retirement, I wouldn’t train AI to do my work for me. That’s the fastest way to be replaced. What you do matters. Your instincts, your ability to connect with a child, your presence in the room....none of that can be replicated by an algorithm.

That doesn’t mean you have to drown under the workload. Systems, not shortcuts, are what save time. Templates, trackers, and repeatable processes won’t replace you; they support you. They give you space back in your day without undermining your expertise or value.

I was reminded of this myself last weekend. I bought a little $27 course called The Organized Blogger from a creator I trust. I spent a Saturday setting up the systems she taught and my workload already feels lighter. Embarrassing to admit, but I’ve been at this since 2008 without any real systems, just scattered notebooks and checklists and planners from Aldi.

Sometimes, taking a step back to put a structure in place is what lets you move forward with less stress and more impact.

Enjoy the rest of your evening,
Lisa

*Please note: the posts here that are in the "Sunday Night Emails" category are just that--previous emails sent out on a Sunday night. The dates/times/content may not match up with present day events because it was sent out a while ago.