In an embodiment, the shelf life of lightweight beads to be used in a cement composition may be extended by combining the lightweight beads with a fluid such as water to inhibit the lightweight beads from forming an agglomeration while they are being stored or transported. In another embodiment, lightweight beads that have already formed an agglomeration may be revitalized for use in a cement composition by adding a fluid such as water to the lightweight beads to reduce a size of the agglomeration. The agglomeration may originally have a width greater than or equal to about 1 inch. Adding the fluid to the lightweight beads may cause at least a portion of the beads to separate from the agglomeration into individual beads having a width of less than or equal to about 200 microns.