If you’re thinking ahead to the new year and want to start strong without slipping into the usual overwhelm, this episode will help you do exactly that.

This is Michael’s Version of one of the most downloaded episodes I’ve ever released — a refreshed, clearer, more aligned re-recording of “How to Plan Your Best Year.”

Much like Taylor Swift re-recording her albums, this is the episode I always wanted to release: still built on the same evidence-based principles as the original, but now sharper, more grounded, and easier to apply.

In this episode, I walk you through a science-backed approach to planning your year that avoids the biggest traps most people fall into.

We explore why long-term motivation often collapses after the initial excitement, and how to design your goals in a way that your brain can sustain over time.

You’ll learn:

• Why only about 10% of New Year’s goals make it past February
• The six evidence-based principles that create a meaningful, achievable year
• How to define what “your best year” actually means (without unrealistic pressure)
• A simple, powerful 4-step protocol for planning your year
• The most common planning mistakes — and how to avoid them
• Four success strategies to keep your goals achievable, energizing, and realistic

Whether you’re looking to make progress on a few important goals or you simply want a more sustainable approach to planning the year ahead, this episode will help you clarify what matters, set achievable targets, and create momentum that lasts.

Resources Mentioned:

• Register for my December workshop: How to Plan Your 2026 Goals Without Burnout
• Join the Thrive Hive for monthly support, tools, and coaching

December 2025 Best Year Workshop

If you want to plan ahead and create your plan for next year, where you actually create the life you want and achieve your goals, check out my Best Year Year workshop at invictus.coach/yearend

Instantly Unlock Performance, Well-Being and Balance Now

The "Thrive Hive" is a monthly membership to help teach, coach and support individuals, organizational teams and their leaders in reaching their full potential, and living a flourishing life with balance and well-being.

You get access to group coaching, monthly education, webinars/livecasts and other events, topic-based support and tools, and access to a private community of other like-minded individuals.

You can find out more or sign up clicking here!

As the year comes to an end, many people jump straight into planning their goals for the next one. But the real power — the kind that fuels motivation, clarity, and fulfillment — comes from looking back first.

In this episode, High Performance Coach Michael Schiel breaks down the deeper science of reflection and introduces the R.E.S.E.T. Model, a structured, evidence-based framework designed to help you extract meaning from your year, realign with what matters most, and enter the next chapter with confidence and direction.

You’ll learn:

• Why reflection changes the brain and boosts long-term motivation
• The key neuroscience and psychology principles behind effective self-review
• How to use the R.E.S.E.T. Framework to review your year:
  • Reflect on what worked
  • Examine challenges with curiosity
  • Seek the lessons
  • Evaluate alignment with your values and identity
  • Transition forward with clarity

Michael also shares how to turn RESET into a powerful habit through weekly, monthly, and quarterly reflection cycles — helping you stay aligned, energized, and focused throughout the year.

Whether you’re closing out a successful year or navigating one that felt messy and overwhelming, this episode gives you the tools to finish strong and step into the new year with purpose and momentum.

Download the RESET Worksheet:
You can download the worksheet I talk about, and apply what you learn at invictus.coach/resources

Join the free livecast on Wednesday, November 19th:
On Wednesday, November 19th, I am hosting a free livecast on this topic. I will introduce the concept and walk through the framework. You will have a chance to learn firsthand about it, and ask questions. Click here to learn more and register for free

This is your roadmap to clarity, confidence, and thriving in the year ahead.

Instantly Unlock Performance, Well-Being and Balance Now

The "Thrive Hive" is a monthly membership to help teach, coach and support individuals, organizational teams and their leaders in reaching their full potential, and living a flourishing life with balance and well-being.

You get access to group coaching, monthly education, webinars/livecasts and other events, topic-based support and tools, and access to a private community of other like-minded individuals.

You can find out more or sign up clicking here!

Have you ever reached the end of the year and felt… underwhelmed? You worked hard, hit some goals, and overcame challenges—but still wonder, Did any of this really matter?

In this episode of The Art and Science of Thriving, I explore the neuroscience and psychology behind why achievement alone rarely feels fulfilling—and how meaningful reflection is the key to ending your year with clarity, confidence, and a genuine sense of progress.

You’ll learn:

• Why your brain’s dopamine system is wired for the chase, not the finish, and how that affects your sense of success.
• The neuroscience of reflection—how it consolidates learning, strengthens resilience, and turns experiences into wisdom.
• Five science-backed principles for reviewing your year so you feel proud, grounded, and ready for what’s next.
• The R.E.S.E.T. Reflection Framework — a simple, evidence-based process to reflect, realign, and refocus for the year ahead.

Plus, I share practical reflection tools you can use this week— like the “Year-in-Three” list and closure rituals—to help you end the year not just successful, but fulfilled.

Instantly Unlock Performance, Well-Being and Balance Now

The "Thrive Hive" is a monthly membership to help teach, coach and support individuals, organizational teams and their leaders in reaching their full potential, and living a flourishing life with balance and well-being.

You get access to group coaching, monthly education, webinars/livecasts and other events, topic-based support and tools, and access to a private community of other like-minded individuals.

You can find out more or sign up clicking here!

Do you ever catch yourself thinking, “I don’t belong here… I’m not good enough… Sooner or later, they’ll find out I’m a fraud”? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, research shows that most high-achieving professionals experience imposter syndrome at some point in their careers

In this episode of The Art and Science of Thriving, I dive into the science behind imposter syndrome — what it really is, why it shows up most often when we’re growing, and how you can use neuroscience and psychology-backed tools to reframe those thoughts so they no longer hold you back.

You’ll learn:

• Why imposter syndrome happens and how your brain is wired to trigger these thoughts in moments of growth.
• The identity gap — why your achievements often feel out of sync with how you see yourself.
• Practical, science-backed strategies to reframe self-doubt into confidence and contribution.
• How leaders can spot imposter syndrome in their teams — and simple steps to help staff turn it into fuel for growth.

Most importantly, you’ll walk away with a proven framework — Awareness, Reframing, and Action — that helps you move past the inner critic and channel imposter feelings into motivation and thriving.

🎯 Free Resource: To help you apply the tools from this episode, I’ve created a downloadable Imposter Syndrome Worksheet & Mini Guide. Get your copy at invictus.coach/resources

If you’ve ever wrestled with self-doubt — or want to support your team through it — this episode will show you how to recognize imposter syndrome for what it is: not proof you don’t belong, but proof that you’re stretching into growth.

Instantly Unlock Performance, Well-Being and Balance Now

The "Thrive Hive" is a monthly membership to help teach, coach and support individuals, organizational teams and their leaders in reaching their full potential, and living a flourishing life with balance and well-being.

You get access to group coaching, monthly education, webinars/livecasts and other events, topic-based support and tools, and access to a private community of other like-minded individuals.

You can find out more or sign up clicking here!

Have you ever ended the day exhausted, yet still felt like you didn’t make progress? You were busy, crossed things off your list, yet something was missing? You’re not alone.

In this episode of The Art and Science of Thriving, I break down why productivity doesn’t always equal fulfillment — and what neuroscience and psychology say actually makes a day feel meaningful.

You’ll discover:

• Why your brain fixates on unfinished tasks (the Zeigarnik Effect)
• The neuroscience behind why checking things off isn’t enough
• A simple, science-backed Fulfillment Formula to help you end your day with clarity and satisfaction.

By the end, you’ll have practical tools you can use tonight to feel more present, purposeful, and fulfilled — even on messy, busy days.

Instantly Unlock More Performance, Well-Being and Balance Now
The "Thrive Hive" is a monthly membership to help teach, coach and support individuals, organizational teams and their leaders in reaching their full potential, and living a flourishing life with balance and well-being.

You get access to group coaching, monthly education, webinars/livecasts and other events, topic-based support and tools, and access to a private community of other like-minded individuals.

You can find out more or sign up clicking here!

You’ve just had a great break — maybe a vacation, time with family, or just a few days of rest — but then Monday hits, and it feels like all that restoration disappears the moment you open your inbox. Sound familiar?

In this episode of The Art and Science of Thriving, I explore why the way you transition back after time off matters more than you think — and how to do it right.

Drawing on neuroscience, psychology, and high-performance research, you’ll learn:

• What happens in your brain and body when you dive back into work too quickly.
• Why poor re-entry erases the benefits of your break in hours instead of weeks.
• The five things your brain and body actually need for recovery to “stick.”
• Practical, evidence-based strategies to create a smoother, more intentional re-entry.

Whether you’ve just had a vacation, a long weekend, or even a short pause in your routine, this episode will help you protect the gains from your downtime — and turn your recovery into fuel for performance, creativity, and well-being.

Instantly Unlock More Performance, Well-Being and Balance Now
The "Thrive Hive" is a monthly membership to help teach, coach and support individuals, organizational teams and their leaders in reaching their full potential, and living a flourishing life with balance and well-being.

You get access to group coaching, monthly education, webinars/livecasts and other events, topic-based support and tools, and access to a private community of other like-minded individuals.

You can find out more or sign up clicking here!

Back by popular demand for the summer season!

Most people head into vacation hoping to relax — but end up thinking about work the whole time. That’s why this episode is making a return appearance.

In this powerful re-release, I dive into the neuroscience and psychology of why it's so hard to shut off from work — and what you can do about it. You'll learn why your brain clings to your job even on vacation, what happens when you don’t fully detach, and how to use an evidence-based 4-step protocol to truly unplug and recharge.

Perfect for summer holidays, long weekends, or anytime you need to step back and breathe.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The brain systems that make it hard to turn off work mode
• The risks of staying mentally plugged in (even if you're not working)
• Four core principles that help you shut off and recover
• A step-by-step protocol to disconnect and come back refreshed

If you’re taking time off — make sure it actually counts. This episode will show you how.

Instantly Unlock More Performance, Well-Being and Balance Now
The "Thrive Hive" is a monthly membership to help teach, coach and support individuals, organizational teams and their leaders in reaching their full potential, and living a flourishing life with balance and well-being.

You get access to group coaching, monthly education, webinars/livecasts and other events, topic-based support and tools, and access to a private community of other like-minded individuals.

You can find out more or sign up clicking here!

Still thinking about work, even when you’re on vacation? You’re not alone — but it doesn’t have to be that way!

In this episode of The Art and Science of Thriving, we dive deep into how to truly unplug, reset, and come back from time off actually feeling restored — not just relieved.

Whether you're a high-performing professional, a leader, or someone who just can’t seem to switch off, this episode gives you a powerful, science-backed roadmap to make your time off actually count.

Why Listen:

If you’ve ever:

• Sat on a dock or beach but couldn’t stop thinking about your inbox,
• Returned from a break still feeling tense or tired,
• Wondered how to actually relax without guilt or distraction…

…then this episode is for you.

You’ll learn:
✅ Why vacations often fail to restore us — and what to do about it
✅ How your brain resists switching out of “work mode” — and how to retrain it
✅ Simple yet powerful rituals that signal your nervous system it’s safe to rest
✅ Five high-impact habits that make your time off more emotionally and physically restorative
✅ A step-by-step Vacation Entry Protocol to help you cross the threshold into deep rest
✅ A 3-step Exit Ramp so you return focused, calm, and ready to re-engage — without burnout

This isn’t about dropping everything and going off the grid (unless you want to). It’s about using neuroscience, sport psychology, and high-performance recovery strategies to flip the switch from doing to being.

You’ve earned your time off — now learn how to make it actually work for you.

Listen in and build the skill of rest — because thriving isn’t just about how hard you work… it’s also about how well you recover.

Instantly Unlock More Performance, Well-Being and Balance Now
The "Thrive Hive" is a monthly membership to help teach, coach and support individuals, organizational teams and their leaders in reaching their full potential, and living a flourishing life with balance and well-being.

You get access to group coaching, monthly education, webinars/livecasts and other events, topic-based support and tools, and access to a private community of other like-minded individuals.

You can find out more or sign up clicking here!