I’m so in awe of God during this fourth quarter of the year.  Over the past three months, I’ve been stretched beyond my limits.  Some days were great and productive.  Other days were foggy where absolutely nothing was completed.  In September, I decided that I was tired of being robbed of my joy, my ideas, and my confidence.  I took a GIGANTIC leap of faith.  So here we are in October, hitting the RESET button, basking in God’s faithfulness and favor while I work on my goals to bring the vision to fruition.

The bible reminds me that God did not give me the spirit of fear but He gave me power! I decided that I’m BETTING on ME going forward and I’m sharing 100 (yes, 100) positive actions for the busy woman like you and me.  From songs to self-care to scriptures, this list is filled with actions to keep your mind, body, and soul moving in a positive direction.

I’m betting on me going forward!

Dive in with me and be sure to work on the challenge at the end! Share with your friends on social media and use the hashtag #onefaithjourney.  Be sure to tag me @iamTamikaL

10 Inspiration Songs to Keep You Motivated

When the days seem long or I find myself stuck, I find solace and victory in these tunes:

1. Imagine by Jon Lennon
2. Don’t Stop Believing by Journey
3. Just Fine by Mary J. Blige
4. On the Ocean by K’ Jon
5. See You Again by Anthony Evans
6. Reckless Love by Corey Asbury
7. Awesome by Pastor Charles Jenkins
8. Jesus the Same by Israel Houghton
9. Better by Hezekiah Walker
10. Do It Again by Elevation Worship

10 Ways to Recharge When Your Energy Feels Low

There is nothing like a good opportunity to recharge.  Give one of these tips a try if you find your energy a little low:

1. Take a warm bath in the dark and just relax.  Add lavendar or burn a lavendar candle to calm the atmosphere.
2. Change your scenery.  If you’re at work, go outside for a minute. If you’re home, take a drive to a local spot like Converspace.
3. Rest your body.  Find a cozy spot to just lay for at least 30 minutes to give your body a good boost.
4. Exercise by taking a walk, going to the gym or doing some at-home regimes.
5. Start a gratitude journal and write a gratitude list.  #1 on my list is I’m grateful for every person reading this post!
6. Have you been on an overnight getaway yet? You have to try it.  I love packing an overnight bag, visiting Greenville, SC, Helen, GA or Charleston, SC.
7. Take a hike in a local park.  Getting close to nature is such a great way to boost your energy.
8. Eat some chocolate.  I know, I know.  If not chocolate, splurge on some good food.
9. Celebrate yourself!  Check out this past post, Celebration Time 4 You! where I highlight ways to celebrate YOU!
10. Unplug and do something like read a book.  Check out the next section for a list of good books to read!

10 Good Books to Dive In to Inspire You! 

1. Gracelaced by Ruth Chou Simmons
2. Get Up by Beth Ruffin
3. Awaken by Priscilla Schirer
4. The Best Yes by Lysa Terkeurst
5. Impress Yourself by Candace Thompson
6. Go High by M. Sweeney
7. The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz
8. The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown
9. The Busy Woman’s Guide to Faith by Tamika S. Washington (yep, this is the official announcement…details for pre-sale coming soon!)
10. The Bible (I like the Message version)

10 Self-Care Tips to Put You First!

1. Carve out a set number of hours or days each month for you.
2. Know your stress triggers so that you can identify what causes those aches.
3. Set boundaries so that people don’t have access to you all the time.
4. Create a safe space.  (I need to clean mine)
5. Journal, journal, journal.  It doesn’t have to be perfect. It can be a list or scribbled notes.
6. Practice daily affirmations to affirm the positivity in your life.
7. Seek counsel when you need to talk with someone other than friends and family.
8. Do something that makes you happy.
9. Learn the power of saying NO.  I’ve blogged about this one several times.  Here is one of my favorite blog posts on the Power of No.
10. It’s ok to do NOTHING.

10 Things to DECLUTTER Your Life!

It’s the last quarter and this is the perfect time to get rid of STUFF.  Here are some places to get started:

1. Social media. Yes, I said social media.  Clean up your friends & following list. Remove yourself from groups that don’t serve ANY purpose in your life. Unfollow people who saturate your timeline with garbage.
2. Clothing.  What is taking up space?What still has tags and has been never worn (there is a difference). Make a goodwill pile and if you want to earn some cash, make a selling pile.
3. Book Shelf. I try to keep all my books but it’s time to donate and giveaway.  If you have Children’s books in excellent condition, consider donating them to a local school or family shelter.
4. Email Subscription.  As much as I love blogs, I can’t follow all 30 of them. However, I do have a list of 10 in the next session that you should follow. It’s time to declutter our email subscription lists and only subscribe to things we enjoy.
5. Speaking of Email, how about the email box.  Can I get an amen on this one? We know good and well that email from Amazon five years ago can be deleted and trash emptied.
6. The Junk Drawer in the Kitchen.  Everyone household has one.  Fall is the perfect time to clean it out.  You might find that $30 that went missing earlier this year. Recycle batteries, empty bottles with liquid, and be careful with old ink pens.
7. Your Desktop.  I have seen some AWFUL desktops.  It’s time to remove some files and put them on a flash drive if they are still valuable or try a free cloud service like Google.
8. Bathrooms.  So embarrasing for me.  I hold on to make up, toiletries, etc.  I know they have expiration dates.  Let’s talk about the towels too.  Tsk Tsk Tsk.  This is first on my list.
9. Home Office.  Do you still have papers from 5 years ago? What about mail stacked in a pile? I do.  Less is more so it’s time to go through the office and get rid of old paper work (I recommend shredding), old business books, and anything on the desk that is over 5 years old.
10. Toy Box.  I haven’t collected a lot of old toys for Faith BUT I’ve seen some children’s toy boxes that needed a good cleaning and donating.  Less is more.  Organize the toys and get rid of what’s old and not being used.

10 REAL Blogs & Podcast to Follow for Inspiration

1. One Faith Journey of course! Be sure to subscribe to stay up-to-date on my faith journey & be inspired along the way.
2. Divas with a Purpose.  I just read a post that got my life all the way together.  Check it out!
3. Pam Dorsey, the Purpose Life Pusher.  She is going to PUSH you whether you like it or not.
4. Sugar & Money, a great way to get your finances in order step by step while enjoying the sweet life.
5. Chrystal Evans Hurst, I love her books, podcast and live sessions to connect her audience to God’s love.
6. Ruth Soukup, host of  Do It Scared Podcast and helping women create a life they love.
7. Business Boutique host Christy Wright gives you the business coupled with faith to grow your business.
8. Progress on Purpose host Mechele Hardy gives you back to back guests filled with lessons and strategies for reaching your purpose.
9. Goal Digger with host Jenna Kutcher gives you real, practical strategies for business.
10. Amy Carroll, writer & blogger gives you intimate moments on her spiritual journey.  I love that she just keeps it real! Speaking of spiritual, check out my list of scriptures to keep me going.

10 Scriptures to Keep Me Going through Tough Times

When life throws you lemons they say make lemonade.  Well for me, I run to the Word of God, of course after all the tears, pouts, and screaming moments.  After all, that’s what Jesus would do.  He reminded us that ‘man cannot live by bread alone’. So no lemonade for me; I find safety, comfort and peace in these Scriptures:

1. Deuteronomy 31:6-Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.
2. Isaiah 41:10-So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
3. I Peter 5:6-7-Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,  casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
4. Romans 8:28-And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
5. Proverbs 3:5-6-Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
6. Philippians 4:6-7-Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
7. Philippians 4:13- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
8. 2 Chronicles 15:7 But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.
9. Isaiah 40:28-Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth.

10 New Activities to Try this Holiday Season

1. Create a new family tradition.  If the family is use to exchanging gifts may be this year, the family could adopt a family.
2. Save money instead of buying lots of presents.  We’ve become so accustomed to giving and receiving so think of how much money you could save.
3. Deep clean your house.  I know its cozy and you just want to relax this holiday season but its a great time to usher in 2020 with a clean environment.
4. Attend a church production in your community.  Many churches have holiday productions, making it a nice family outing and way to connect with new friends.
5. Give a new recipe a try.  The holidays is a great time to break out the pots and pans for a nice baking dish or entree for the family dinner.  I’ve seen some delicious recipes on First and Full, food & family blog.
6. Holiday lights in neighborhoods.  Christmas is my favorite time of year.  I love the holiday lights on the river but its become such a staple event in Columbia that its no longer fun for me (long lines, same lights, etc). Instead, I pick an evening to drive through a few neighborhoods in my area to look at lights.  Saves me gas from the hike across town and a few extra bucks.
7. Make a holiday wreath as a family.  I know you’re probably saying you’re not that crafty but how cool would it be for you and the family to gather up some supplies  (dollar tree and michaels w/ coupons) to head for the kitchen table to make your own wreath.
8. Hot Chocolate Buffet is something I want to try this year.  I plan to invite a few friends over and break out the holiday mugs.  You can add this to any holiday event with friends or family.  All you need is peppermint sticks, marshmallows, red holiday sprinkles, mugs (Dollar Tree), chocolate chips and anything else you can think of that will make spruce up a good ole cup of hot chocolate.
9.  Volunteer this season.  There are many opportunities around the city, no matter where you are located, to engage in volunteer opportunities.  Whether you serve food, deliver toys at the hospital or collect toys for families in need, make service a part of your holidays.
10. Movie day in pajamas.  Sometimes I like to tuck away in my bed away from the family; however, this year we’re all getting our PJs, picking our top three movies and crashing in the living room with our favorite snacks to have a movie day.

My TOP Ten Productivity Tools for 2019

1. Notebook(s)- Honestly, I have too many so I’m looking to condense my notebooks down to a 3 subject notebook for each area of my life-home, personal, business. I’ve already purchased the notebook and will be working to get condensed….soon.
2. Journal- This is different from my notebook and I have too many of these as well.  I’m shopping for the one journal that SPEAKs to me, one that I can carry around in my purse so that when ideas come on the fly, I have space to write them down.
3. Honeybook- So this one is new for me since I own a physical business location but when these speaking engagements start rolling in, I need my contracts, proposals and speaking sheets to be automated and professional.  Honey Book is my productivity jam, helping me to communicate with our clients and book our space more efficiently.  If you are in the service industry, check it out.  Enjoy 20% off using this link to sign up with Honey Book. (I will get a kickback just so you know). PS..I also help business owners get everything connected so email me at hello@theconverspace.com if you’re interested in using the service but don’t want to set up it.  I got you!!!
4. Google Calendar app- Babyyyyy! If I can’t connect it to my Google calendar, I am not investing in it.  Having all my calendars synced keeps me on task, helps me plan out my days and gives me an opportunity to see what’s ahead in order to set goals for my business and personal brand.
5. Libby- I have to be honest, I love books but don’t get to sit down to full read them. So I learned about this app called Libby that’s connected to my local library so that I can check out books, including audio books.  I have a list of books on my list to finish listening to by the end of the year.  Chaching! Right now I’m currently reading The Memo by Minda Hart. Next on my list of Brittany Hennessey’s Influencer and Girl Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis.
6. Zoom- I know you think how does that make you productive.  For virtual meetings on the go, I’ve downloaded the app.  There are times where I simply can’t meet with someone face-to-face so it fits my busy lifestyle.
7. Later- Confession: I’m not a huge fan of social media these days so in moments where I can’t manage it all, I like to use the Later app to schedule posts and format my post.  I have to admit, that I’ve been a little quiet lately but its because my brain needs a little break.
8. Post Its- For me, they work.  I jot notes, goals, tasks and stick them on my physical calendar or on my tasks list for the day as a way to help track progress.
9. Google Drive helps with automation, data collection, and note taking in meetings.  Now I need to get my drive organized before 2020.  #goals
10. Trello- super cool tool to help me categorize and organize my content for Converspace and my personal brand.

Here is your challenge: Create your own 10 List of Something Spectacular and share in the comments.

10 Lists of Spectacular Things You Can Share

1. DIY Projects
2. Favorite Memories
3. Holiday Music
4. Family Traditions
5. Places to Visit
6. Bucket List Items
7. Challenges You’ve Overcome
8. Tips for Sparking Creativity
9. Favorite Movies
10. New Hobbies to Try

You made it through the list.  I hope the busy woman in you is inspired to share your Top Ten List with Your Audience.  Tag me on social media with your list @iamTamikaL.  I’d love to try some thing new all because of you!

Tamika L.