The other day I put my phone in the refrigerator. Not in a dramatic, organized way. Just… spiritually.

I opened the fridge. I had my phone in my hand. And the next thing I knew, it was beside the butter like it paid rent there.

If that isn’t middle-aged exhaustion with a splash of hormone confusion, I don’t know what is.

And listen…I am not falling apart. I am just…tired.

Tired in the way that comes from loving people well. From cooking dinner again. From letting the dog out twelve times because “this time he means it.” (Bubba, I’m looking at you.) From waking up at 2:17AM for no reason other than my body choosing chaos.

But here’s the thing:

We may be tired…

But we are still fabulous. And over the years, I have used a few simple life hacks that keep me functioning, moisturized, and mildly sane.

1. Put Your Vitamins Beside the Coffee Maker

If it’s not near caffeine, it does not exist.

I don’t care how healthy you are. If the vitamins are in a cabinet, they are decorative.

Coffee first.
Calcium second.
That is the order the Lord intended.

2. Keep a “Lazy Dinner List” Inside a Cabinet

Because 4PM is not the hour to reinvent beef.

Have 5 meals written down that require:

• Minimal thinking
• Minimal chopping
• Minimal emotional investment

Tacos.
Breakfast for dinner.
Crockpot something.
Frozen lasagna with confidence.

You are not a failure. You are efficient.

3. Run the Dishwasher at Night Even If It’s Not Full

Protect your peace. There is something deeply spiritual about waking up to empty sinks.

Could you wait? Yes. Will you? No.

Jesus loves clean counters and rested women.

4. Emergency Chocolate in the Freezer

This is for spiritual emergencies only. Not boredom. Not habit.

But the kind of day where:

• You forgot why you walked into a room
• Your jeans betrayed you
• And the dog barked at his monkey for twenty minutes

Break glass.
Eat square.
Pray.
Proceed.

5. Chapstick in the Car Always

We may be tired, but we are not crusty.

There is something powerful about pulling up to grocery pickup, church, or the drive-thru with glossy lips and unbothered energy.

Hair may be questionable. Brain may be buffering. But these lips? Hydrated.

6. Stretch Before Doing Anything Dramatic

You are not 22.

If you drop something on the floor, evaluate the importance of the item before committing to the squat.

Move gently.
Twist slowly.
Respect your hamstrings.

This is wisdom.

And maybe the biggest life hack of all? Give yourself grace.

We are in a season where our bodies change. Sleep plays hide-and-seek. Our brains occasionally take a scenic route.

But we are still showing up. Still loving hard. Still cooking dinner. Still thanking God for sunshine when we step outside. And most of all…Still fabulous.

So if you forget why you walked into a room today? Just stand there confidently. Someone will assume you meant to. Mama wink.

If this blessed you, share it with a friend who keeps her chapstick in three different purses and still can’t find it when she needs it.

Natalie💛