I'm a 50-year-old Old Perimenopausal Woman with ADHD, and These Things Make My Life Easier
- Jennifer Hardy
- Jul 4
- 13 min read
I still feel like Madonna’s Material Girl era was just a few years ago. I still rock neon pink like it’s ’82 and quote John Hughes movies like gospel. But here I am—50. And honestly? Most of it is not so bad.
I could do without the perimenopausal mood swings that literally nobody prepares us for. In addition, this hormonal change of life seems to kick ADHD into high gear. It doesn't help that my mind still feels 30, and my body feels like it's hovering around Medicare age most days.
Even with my feet firmly planted in GenX indifference, I don't even mind all the little nuances that make me unique. They are the same things that used to give me anxiety. How do I, as a single business owner, keep doing midlife day in and day out?
Here is a list of the 50 things I actually use, love, or rely on to make midlife feel less like a crisis and more like a vibe.
1 Ancient Nutrition Menopause Support
I'll be honest; I got Ancient Nutrition Menopause Support for free through Amazon Vine's program. I wasn't expecting much. However, in the two months I've been using it, I haven't had another hot flash. Much less had one in a crowded Target store or in the middle of the night, forcing me to wake up and do laundry (that I'll never fold).
2 Temporary Hair Color
That gray hair keeps trying to grow in, showing God has a sense of humor. I've tried most of my life to keep my hair "white blonde," only for now "white gray" to be creeping in. Throwing in some pink or purple from L'Oréal Colorista makes me feel like I'm still young enough to have fun but responsible enough not to let my hair get damaged.
3 Root Touch Up Powder
Even managing those gray hairs is easy with BOLDIFY Hairline Powder. A few dabs along the part and hairline, and I won't see them gray again until I shampoo. Plus, a little goes a long way. After a year, I still haven't come close to running low on this product.
4 Collagen Mask
Twice a week, I jump on the glass skin craze using MIGUHARA's Rose Collagen Wrapping Peel-Off Mask. Never gunky, and dries quickly, the neurodivergent satisfaction of peeling it off in one pull never ceases to amaze me!
5 Shark Blow Dryer
After two years of spying on the Dyson Air Wrap at a price not in line with a car payment, I finally went after the Shark HD430. Living in a humid place with thin, dry hair, I didn't expect much. However, my post-blowout hair is now literally "straight outta the salon" every single time. Plus, I never touch a curling iron.
6 Cupping Kit
I once asked during a pricy cupping session what kind of experience was needed to do that service. The therapist told me, "I watched a YouTube video." Since then, I have also watched a YouTube video and have my own set of cups to relieve muscle tension. Bonus for the kits that come with an extension cord so you can reach all those spots in the mid-back.
7 Azelaic Acid
At first, I thought that Perimenopause caused me to become extra sensitive to the sun. Turns out, it was rosacea. The dermatologist prescribed an $80 azelaic acid cream. Once that was used up, I just got some Azelaic Acid from Amazon. It helps with the red splotches on my arms, too.
Note: Despite the name, this feels nothing like acid. It's just a regular cream/oil combo.
8 Hotel Diffuser Oil
I'm a connoisseur of scents, leaning heavily into floral and beachy scenes while avoiding vanilla and musks like the plague. I started collecting AirScent Hotel flavors last summer, and I'm now obsessed with Ritz-Carlton in the living room and Sheraton Beach House in the bedroom.
PRO TIP: Get a waterless Essential Oil Diffuser to keep the smell going and not hear that annoying and triggering water-bubbling sound.
9 Battery Jumper
Of all the cars in the world, I have one that tends to have the battery drain if it's not driven enough. After two calls to Subaru service, I saw the technician was using what looked like a brick phone to charge my car. No jumpers or nice people willing to help are needed.
Just this week, my battery died again, and I was on the road in less than five minutes thanks to my Noco Boost Jumper Starter. I think every car should have one of these things inside. I'm not smart about car parts in any sense of the concept. If I can figure this out, anyone can.
10 Smart Scale
I started taking Zepbound in December, hellbent on getting this perimenopause and edema weight gain off my aging body. I didn't want to just know about pounds. I wanted to see other progress. The Renpho Smart Scale has a free app (a seriously free, no push to upgrade to something better) that shows how much visceral fat, subcutaneous fat, muscle mass, protein, water, etc., are being lost or gained.
11 Bidet
The older you get, the odder your gifts become. I saw a bidet on sale for Black Friday, 2024, and I was super excited to get "behind" the trend. It looked so simple to install.
Maybe I'll get around to doing that by Black Friday, 2025, because it's still sitting in the box. But when the mood strikes, I'm sure I'll love it.
12 Foot Massager
I have a weird thing about not letting other people touch my feet, but I also don't know anything about foot massages. So, I let the team at Renpho help me out again with this intoxicating foot massager.
I use it underneath my desk during the day and transition it to my bed or couch at night for a more relaxing experience. I chose the heat setting because my feet seem to always be cold. And thank goodness for the remote control.
13 Foot Rest
Long legs, short desks, and an extended torso make me feel like I can never sit comfortably at my desk. I became more obsessed with posture in my 40s, and this footrest under my desk is like having a cloud help keep my knees parallel to my hips while working, at least when my dog isn't using it for a headrest.
14 Head & Eye Massager
Back to Renpho for my headache destroyer, also known as the RENPHO Eye Massager with Heat and Cooling. Considering I'm sort of afraid of pitch darkness, I wasn't sure how this would go over.
However, once you slide this on, soothing sounds of nature take over, and massaging begins around your temples, forehead, and eyes. It feels like miniature magic fingers are just melting the tension away.
You can get more Renpho products right from the brand's website, too.
15 Beats Pro
While I definitely was following the trend, I also came to love my Beats Pro because it drowns out other human noise and random conversations when I'm at the grocery store or walking the dogs. As an extroverted introvert, I love the privacy I get without having to hide out in my closet all day.
Bonus points for working with Zoom client calls, too.
16 UNBrush Detangler
When my dad used to brush my hair as a kid, he would always ask, "Did you go to the tangle shop?" The memes showing brushing in the 80s, akin to a torture device, aren't too far off. This UNbrush Detangler has made my hair easy to brush, no matter what. Also, it doesn't get clogged, and it's so easy to clean. Between this and my Tangle Teezer, I'll never buy another brush again.
17 Anemometer
When you get older, you talk about the weather A LOT. Living in a place like Nebraska, you also get a lot of wind. So instead of being dramatic (like I would EVER be dramatic), I got an anemometer so I can tell what the exact wind speed is.
This also helps me as an official Weather Spotter for the National Weather Service. Did you know you could do that?
18 Theracane
It looks like a mistake at a candy cane factory, but in fact, this Theracane works into all the little trigger points throughout your body. My tip? Get one with as many nodes as possible, since each one has a purpose. You'll wonder how you lived without it.
19 Gua Sha Tools
Gua sha tools aren’t just for glowing skin—they're lifesavers for muscle tension. I use stainless steel or jade tools to scrape along my neck, shoulders, and thighs, like a DIY deep tissue massage. It helps release fascia, ease tight spots, and ground me. These tools are similar to what's used in Graston therapy, but at home and on your terms.
For larger muscle groups, like my calves that ache all day and my sciatica hip issues, get the handlebar version. You'll also need some emollient balm to help it glide right through the fascia.
Facial gua sha tools are smaller and shaped differently for delicate areas, but the vibe is the same.
20 Tongue Scraper
A tongue scraper might look weird, but it’s one of the easiest ways to level up your oral hygiene. It removes buildup that causes bad breath, helps your taste buds work better, and keeps your mouth feeling fresh. One swipe in the morning and you’re not gagging on stale overnight funk. It also gets rid of all the crap sitting in your mouth before you go to bed at night.
21 L-Lysine
L-lysine tablets are my go-to the second I feel that annoying tingle that means a cold sore or canker sore is brewing. By 50, you’ve likely had your share and hate every second of them. I take two tablets right away, and most of the time, that sore never shows up. Total game changer.
22 Water Bottles
Whether it's due to my GLP-1 diet, living in the desert, or just desperate measures to keep my skin as elastic as possible, you won't find me without a water bottle in my hand. Ideally, get one that shows you the amount you should be drinking by a specific time of day. It helps you stay on track.
23 Water Bottle Cleaning Beans
With so many water bottles around, I've lost too many to gunk in the bottom that didn't wash properly in the dishwasher. Then I found these cleaning beans, which are simple to use and easy to take on the go with you.
The beans also work great with recycled milk cartons, which I use for carrying the dog's water around.
24 HEPA Air Purifier
Living with two dogs in an apartment that is more like a cave, I began to wonder what the air quality was like in there. I got a portable air quality measurement tool through Amazon Vine and was shocked at how bad the air was inside.
My next step was to get a pair of GermGuardian Air Purifiers that not only provided much-needed white noise but also had special filters for pet allergens.
25 Dick Bone
Because I might be 50, but I'm a teenage boy at heart, my dogs love this easy-to-maneuver bone that has a long shaft and two paw rests at the bottom. It has since been nicknamed the Dick Bone. Every dog that comes to visit us is obsessed with it.
26 Ear Wax Removal Camera Kit
While this wax removal kit is supposed to help guide you to the collection of earwax inside your ear, complete with a live camera, I got it to help with getting a peek at a few teeth and inside my nose after a surgery. Since then, I have found worlds of fun looking closer at my ears, scalp, arms, acne, or anything else that needs to be enhanced 5,000 times.
In fact, I even used it to get a closer look at my hair root to see if telogen effluvium (hair loss) was happening.
27 Posture Stick
Sitting at a desk is crushing my back, and as I work on posture, I also need something to stretch it out during breaks. This portable and easy-to-use corrector requires nothing more than standing there with your arms wrapped around it. It pulls your shoulders back into place and prevents you from slouching. If they made this into a sweatshirt, I would wear it all the time.
28 Meta Quest
As a video game nerd of the 80s, I've never lost my love of playing games. Being an adult kept me away from my buddies Mario and Donkey Kong, but now I can go into a virtual world. One day, I even scaled Half Dome at Yosemite using the Meta Quest. Most of my workouts are done through Meta Quest, too.
Plus, if you have gaming friends, you can all meet up in a "world" and play games, explore, or just talk a lot of smack.
29 Probiotic and Digestive Enzymes
Balancing the belly in midlife challenges every woman. A probiotic keeps everything moving smoothly, and a digestive enzyme helps break down big meals, thus reducing the risk of gas, burping, and bloating.
These are especially helpful for those on GLP-1s like Ozempic or Zepbound, since you get the benefits of both without negating the slowed digestion of the meds. Since I started the digestive enzyme, the sulfur burps are gone.
30 Garbage Disposal Cleaner
Cleaning a garbage disposal is never easy. Either the smell keeps coming, or you end up with bubbles for days. That's when I found the Affresh Disposal Cleaner. It's no harder than dropping the cleaner in the sink and running some water.
31 Washing Machine Cleaner
Same thing for the washing machine, but with a special twist to help clean out all those stinky places beyond the basin you rarely see. Considering how much I sweat, I was worried my clothes weren't getting clean enough (and where does all that stuff go anyway?). Just be sure to get an eco-friendly version.
32 Automatic Scrubber
TikTok made me do it, and I have zero regrets. Cleaning the shower, tub, floors, floorboards, and air ducts has never been easier with the electric spin scrubber. Plus, it works underwater, and I don't risk my nails getting weak or broken.
33 Oversized Hoodies in Every Color
At a certain age, you stop worrying about midriff tops, "how good your boobs look", and form fitting everything. Comfort takes over where style used to be. Even if the oversized look wasn't cool, you'll still have to pry my oversized hoodies from my cold, dead hands. These are my favorites since they're pretty good at not getting covered in dog hair within the first 10 minutes.
34 Memory Foam Slippers
Working at home means working in slippers, and I need pairs that transition to the dog park, a short walk, or the mailbox as easily as walking around inside. Plus, I like them to be easy to wash. I'm a big fan of the Chantomoo Slippers, especially the pink and black versions.
35 Slides Instead of Flip Flops
I've dealt with chronic kidney disease for the better part of eight years now. At one point, the edema in my feet and ankles was so bad that boots and tennis shoes didn't fit. I couldn't shove my pigs into flip-flops, either.
That's when I got several pairs of the Nike slides. You might also refer to these as Shower Shoes, depending on your generation. Not only are these seriously more comfortable, but they are adaptable to become larger or smaller with a velcro cover.
36 Tower Fan
Full disclosure, I got this tower fan to blow over the area where my elderly dog sleeps. He's always panting, so I needed something to keep him cooler. However, the variations of settings can also help drown out noise, circulate in that awesome crisp evening air, or help rid the cave apartment of my latest cookest disasters scent.
37 Phone Privacy Protector
"Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you." I always have a complex about people looking at what I'm doing on my phone. Not that I think I'm THAT important, but people are curious, right? So I found privacy screen protectors that allow me to text anything I want without other people being able to look over my shoulder and see it. Works great, especially since I can still see what's on the screen as well as ever.
38 Floor Bed
Another tool I got for an aging dog. When Donner couldn't get on the bed anymore, I didn't want to always be separated from him. Also, God forbid, I didn't want to treat him like an animal and sleep on the floor.
The futon floor mattress is now what I call "the floor bed." He sleeps there during the day, and I have some floor bed parties with him, brushing, cleaning his ears, or just snuggling. We've even spent some long nights sleeping on it.
39 "Let Them" Shirt
The mantra of 2025 is my new motto. My Let Them t-shirt reminds me, with just two words, that you can't control what other people do. You can only control how you react to their behavior. Want to know more about the Let Them Theory? Check out Mel Robbins' book.
40 Cheap AF Sunglasses
Because it's more about keeping the sun out of my eyes for the first time in my life instead of trying to look like a wayward extra of Top Gun. I got a three-pack for my ADHD brain that can't even find sunglasses when I need them.
41 Lip Balm
I've come full circle from my cheap Carmex days through stupid expensive brands and back to this staple that works like nothing else.
42 Night Cream
After trying big-name brands with huge price tags, I've settled into the magical power of CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream. Final answer.
43 Epsom Salt
I always have bags of Epsom salt lying around as if I were going to use it to de-ice the sidewalk in winter. However, this stuff works magic on achy muscles, tired feet, or even trigger points that need a little TLC.
44 Curved Computer Monitor
Being neurodivergent, I used to think there was no such thing as too many computer monitors. However, my neck was taking the brunt of it by going back and forth like a tennis match all day long. Then, I got an ultra-wide wrap-around monitor (okay, I got TWO of them), and it's so much easier to see everything I need to see on one screen now, and no more windows with 800 tabs open.
45 Trader Joe's Hair Mask
Purchased on a whim a few years ago, this is the holy grail of hair masks. You'll never need any of that fancy schmancy stuff again.
46 Baking Soda
This stuff comes in surprisingly handy for all kinds of things, from cleaning fruit to crushing heartburn. Don't confuse baking soda and baking powder. Not that I've ever done that. Nope. Not me.
47 Plastic Utensils
My ADHD doesn't allow me to keep track of flatware, so I use plastic silverware all the time. Use and toss makes meal time so much less stressful, and I'm never rushing to clean a spoon just to eat some healthy Greek yogurt.
48 Spot Cleaner
Life with dogs gets messy, and now I don't have to scrub the carpet raw to get it cleaned. The Bissell Little Green Pet Deluxe Portable Carpet Cleaner is one of the best investments of my life! Works wonders detailing the car, too.
49 Grace & Stella Eye Masks
Tired of eye masks that slid off my face before they could do their thing, the Grace and Stella Eye Masks make my tired eyes look no more than a day over 40.
50 Bio Oil
Perfect for stretch marks, massage oil, or just super dry skin, Bio Oil keeps you hydrated without being goopy or making you smell like a baby prostitute.
50 and Fabulous
Another thing that helps keep me going as I turn the half-century mark is the presence of animals. I love my golden retrievers, and we often have play dates with other friends. I even use the temporary hair color to turn my girl's tail pink.
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