All the life hacks you'll ever need. You. Are. Welcome.
Cheats to sort out sleep, skin, holidays, money, mental load and even style a midlife tum. Yes, they're genius and yes, they work. We know because we tested them. Welcome to your MID hackathon!
The hack that gets you the most days off in 2025.
Yes, I am fully aware it's October (barely). But any second now, it'll be November, which is basically December and, oh look! Here's 2025, kicking down the door like the cool guy who just rocked up to the party with his boombox on his shoulder and when did it become 1989 again??
But I digress.
Holidays are one of life's greatest joys. At a close second? Free sh*t. Or… finding a great bargain. Getting half off. Discounts. Etcetera.
And one of my greatest joys is mooshing the two together by way of hacking public holidays to give my annual leave days a juicy boost.
'Free days off' is kind of like free money, which is unquestionably the best thing ever. And scoring whopping 16-day break for the price of just seven annual leave days? Well, that's better than half price, and it is 100 per cent possible in 2025.
It's girl math but better.
It's public holiday math.
And because these hacks aren't exactly state secrets, now is the absolute right time to be locking in the following dates with your boss, and giving yourself something big to look forward to as we inch closer to the new year…
🎧 Follow below to listen to this episode of MID with Holly Wainwright which is all about what happens when you don’t take time out for YOU.
Listen to more genius hacks on Out Loud: F*ck First & Other Life Cheat Codes.
6 hacks for long-haul flights you’ll wish you knew about sooner.
Women on their most under-rated money hacks which actually work.
Yes, there’s a formula to a good night’s sleep.
There's nothing much better than a perfect night's rest.
And as it turns out, there is actually a series of steps one must follow in order to sleep well, better and for longer.
Below are the five practical things you can do to set yourself up for a good night's sleep.
1. Follow the 10-3-2-1-0 method.
We've all heard of the 4-7-8 technique, a military relaxation exercise used to help someone get to sleep faster and for longer. But, as it turns out, there is another simpler trick that may help anyone looking to get some decent shut-eye.
If you've been scrolling lately, you may have seen the 10-3-2-1-0 method video that continues to go viral on Instagram. It's basically a step-by-step routine that prepares us for a good night's sleep.
Here's what you have to do:
10 hours before bed: No more caffeine.
Three hours before bed: No more food.
Two hours before bed…
🎧 Follow below if you want to hear another trick to wake up looking refreshed and fully rested. This episode of You Beauty has the answer.
Read, watch and listen to more
3 viral overnight hair hacks to simplify your morning routine.
Best ever hacks from an over-40s beauty expert.
Sleep hygiene hacks you’ll want to try immediately.
HOLLY WAINWRIGHT: ‘How I manage the mental load of life’.
Sometimes I wonder if we moved out of the city just so I could regularly escape from my family.
Oops. I think I said that out loud.
Two years ago, my family moved two hours south of Sydney. We live in the kind of beautiful little seaside town that people go on holiday to. Sorry, I know that’s insufferable of us.
It was a move made for peace, space and a different kind of life. And we got all that.
What I didn’t factor in was that, since my work is still in Sydney and also requires me to travel, means… I’m up and down a lot.
Some days of the week I wake up and walk my dog along the river, fiddle with my veggie patch in between work calls and writing projects, walk to the one shop in my town, maybe have a drink at the one local pub in the evening… And other days I’m up at five to get to the city, choose where to spend my lunch dollars from the 250 choices within walking distance of our inner city office where I work alongside a group of noisy, smart, hilarious women.
Sometimes, I stay over, and go see a live show alongside hundreds of other people, eat food from any corner of the world, Uber around town like Carrie freaking Bradshaw.
The double life suits me. But it makes life complicated…
🎧 Follow below to hear this episode of MID with Holly and Kylie Gillies that’s all about the mental load of women in the sandwich generation — and how to find joy in it still.
Read, watch and listen to more
10 hacks guaranteed to halve your mental load.
The mental load of being in the sandwich generation is exhausting.
Women bear the brunt of caring. It’s time to acknowledge the mental load.
THE SCROLL 📱
5 stories to feed your mind, heart and soul.
1. I'm 56 and a model. Here's the skincare routine I swear by.
2. I was forced to leave home at 15. Now, I’m grateful.
3. I searched for the perfect midi skirts so you don’t have to.
4. I’ve been made redundant 5 times. Here’s what I’ve learnt.
5. Eyebrows gone AWOL? This is the trick to saving them.
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MID-style Inspo 👗
Spring styling for a midlife midsection
Get to midlife and suddenly your body wants to be a circle. RUDE. Clothes can be the key here to making the most of what you’ve got and still feeling comfortable. Watch below for tips to style the heck out of a fupa so you look and, most importantly, feel as GLORIOUS as you undoubtedly are.
ICYMI 👀
Meet the woman who got her dog a designer vagina.
How would you feel if you saw your husband doing this at your wedding?
8 years after I survived cancer, my son received this news.
The French President and Mayor of Rome are fighting… over Emily in Paris.
My daughter identifies as an animal. This is what I want you to know.
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This was great love the holiday hacks. Definitely needed it.