Written by Aisha Saintiche, Certified Health Coach
With over fifteen years of experience in Mental Health, Accessibility and Diversity and Inclusion, Aisha has used her experience as a strategic advisor and health coach to understand the complexity and intersectionality of the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual barriers that keep people from achieving their optimized health and wellness.
As the year begins its final descent into fall, we often find ourselves caught between reflecting on what we’ve accomplished and the pressures of unfinished goals. This period offers a powerful opportunity to pause, recalibrate, and mindfully refocus. For those seeking to live an audacious life—a life driven by boldness, purpose, and intentionality—now is the perfect time to align your priorities with your goals.
Living audaciously means more than simply chasing ambitions. It’s about being brave enough to refocus, to say “yes” to what matters, and to let go of what no longer serves you. Over the last few years, and if I had to narrow it down even more – the last 6 months, I have been the most intentional about how I refocus my time and energy on the people, places and things that are worthy of my time and effort. As always, I caveat what I am about to share with you as not being a perfect science, but more a compilation of knowledge, expertise, lived experience and the learnt outcomes of failing forward. This month I’d love to offer some practical strategies to guide you as you reassess your priorities, craft new routines, and reclaim balance in your personal and professional life.
1. Reassess your priorities: What truly matters?
Before you can refocus, it’s essential to ask yourself: What are my true priorities? When living an audacious life, clarity is key. Priorities shift throughout the year, and it’s important to regularly assess whether your current efforts align with your core values and larger vision.
Steps to reassess
Reconnect with your ‘why’: Take time to revisit your long-term goals and the reasons behind them. What motivated you at the start of the year? Has your vision evolved? Whether you’re focused on career, health, relationships, or personal growth, this reflection will help clarify what’s worth your energy.
Categorize your priorities: Break your priorities into categories: professional, personal, financial, and wellness. What has received the bulk of your attention so far, and what might need more focus? Be honest about which areas have slipped off your radar and why.
Practical strategy: Create a priority map. List your top 3 priorities in each area of life and evaluate how your daily actions support or detract from these goals. This process can highlight where you need to refocus and what you may need to release.
Living audaciously: The courage to reassess your priorities is a cornerstone of audacity. It takes boldness to pivot when necessary and stay aligned with your true path, even if it means letting go of pursuits that no longer serve your vision. Trusting that realignment will bring you closer to your purpose is an audacious move in itself.
2. Set short-term goals: Make the final quarter count
The last few months of the year can feel daunting, especially if you feel like you haven’t achieved everything you set out to do. However, reframing your mindset to focus on short-term, achievable goals can help reignite your momentum. The key is to approach goal-setting with flexibility and mindfulness, acknowledging what’s realistic while still challenging yourself to take audacious action.
Steps to set short-term goals
Reflect on past wins and lessons: Start by acknowledging what you’ve already achieved this year. Celebrate your successes, no matter how small, and consider what lessons you’ve learned from challenges. This reflection will give you clarity on where to direct your energy next.
Define your final quarter milestones: Set clear, actionable goals for the next three months. These should be SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) goals that align with your larger vision. Prioritize progress over perfection and aim for balance—don’t overload yourself.
Practical strategy: Break each goal into micro-goals. For example, if your goal is to improve work-life balance, break it down into smaller steps: setting work hours, planning family time, or incorporating daily self-care. Tackling micro-goals each week helps you build momentum and stay focused without feeling overwhelmed.
Living audaciously: Audacity isn’t just about setting bold goals—it’s about pursuing them with relentless focus. By breaking your larger dreams into smaller, achievable steps, you’re affirming your commitment to progress. You’re choosing to take intentional action every day, no matter how small the step, and that’s what it means to live audaciously.
3. Create new routines: Build a supportive framework
Mindful refocusing requires structure. Creating new routines that support your priorities and goals helps ensure that you’re consistently taking action. The key is to design routines that bring both productivity and balance, nurturing your personal well-being while supporting your professional endeavors.
Steps to build new routines
Evaluate your current routine: Take a close look at how your time is currently spent. What habits are serving you, and which ones are draining your energy or distracting you from your goals? Be intentional about designing a routine that leaves room for both achievement and rest.
Integrate mindful practices: Consider how you can bring mindfulness into your daily routine. Whether it’s through morning meditation, mindful eating, or a few minutes of deep breathing during work breaks, these practices will help keep you grounded and focused.
Practical strategy: Start your day with intention by implementing a “Power Hour” routine. Dedicate 20 minutes each to movement (like stretching or walking), mindfulness (meditation or journaling), and goal setting (writing down your top 3 tasks for the day). This routine helps you begin the day feeling centered, clear, and motivated.
Living audaciously: Creating intentional routines is a form of audacity—it reflects your commitment to living purposefully. Audacious people design their days around their values and goals, resisting the pull of distractions and busyness. They know that the habits they build daily are the foundation for their larger success.
4. Reclaim work-life balance: Audacity in rest and recharge
As we approach the year’s end, burnout can loom large, especially if you’ve been working relentlessly towards your goals. Audacity is not only about pushing forward—it’s also about knowing when to pause, rest, and recharge. Reclaiming work-life balance is essential to maintaining both productivity and well-being.
Steps to reclaim balance
Set clear boundaries: Establish firm boundaries between work and personal life. This might mean setting specific work hours, avoiding emails after a certain time, or creating a designated workspace at home. Communicate these boundaries clearly to others.
Prioritize self-care: Schedule time for activities that replenish you, whether it’s spending time with loved ones, engaging in a creative hobby, or simply resting. Remember, rest is not a reward—it’s a necessity.
Practical strategy: Implement “Non-Negotiable” personal time. Choose a day or a few hours each week that are dedicated solely to self-care and relaxation. Treat this time as a crucial meeting with yourself—no cancellations allowed.
Living audaciously: It’s audacious to choose balance in a world that glorifies hustle and busyness. By prioritizing your well-being and respecting your limits, you’re asserting that your health, happiness, and relationships matter just as much as your professional success. Living audaciously is about flourishing holistically, not just in one area of life.
Moving forward: Live audaciously, live mindfully
As the final quarter approaches, remember that mindful refocusing is not about frantically trying to catch up on lost time. It’s about realigning with your purpose, embracing what’s most important, and taking bold, intentional steps forward. Living an audacious life requires a commitment to both vision and action, to both courage and care.
This season, give yourself the grace to pivot, the space to refocus, and the Audaci-Tea to pursue your goals with clarity and passion. You have the power to finish the year strong and to set the stage for an even more audacious future.
Here’s to your audacious refocus and a strong finish to the year ahead!
Aisha Saintiche, Certified Health Coach
Aisha Saintiche is a certified Health Coach and the founder and owner of MetoMoi Health. With over fifteen years of experience in Mental Health, Accessibility and Diversity and Inclusion, Aisha has used her experience as a strategic advisor and health coach to understand the complexity and intersectionality of the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual barriers that keep people from achieving their optimized health and wellness.
