What is Thrive?

Our Thriving Stories series dives into the real-life experiences of members in our profession and what they do to prioritise their wellbeing. In this edition, we hear from Joseph Grant, Financial Accountant External Reporting and Compliance, Primark and past Chair of the ACA Professionals.  What role does physical activity play in your daily routine, and how do you stay motivated to maintain it? Physical activity plays a big part in my daily routine. I attend circuits classes 2 or 3 times a week, I find that classes work well for me as it's a short time commitment and at a set time so I can plan my week around it. Attending classes is a great way to also meet people so there is a social element to it and would recommend it to anyone. I am very lucky that my job also has exercise classes, I attend these on most of my in office days. For me, the fact that the classes are planned for you and at set times helps keep me motivated as I have the time in my diary and just need to show up.   How do you approach nutrition, and what are some of your favourite healthy meals or snacks? I regularly meal prep for the week as working in the office then coming home to cook every night can feel like a chore. The slow cooker is great for meal prep and really takes a lot of the effort out of cooking. My favourite meal in the slow cooker would be a chicken curry, TikTok is great for finding recipes! I have incorporated lots of small changes to my nutrition over the past 12 months, cut out milk from my coffee, sticking to sugar free drinks or dilute. For me small changes overtime have worked well and allow me to be consistent.   How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance, especially during busy times? For me breaks are very important. There are often times during the year I have to work late or work through lunch but I always ensure to take my break even if it's later as this gives you a chance to relax, and sometimes a break from the screen helps you figure out a solution. I also have a great manager who often will you give you a bit of the time back when needed so this really helps balance out those busier times.   What are some self-care practices you incorporate into your life, and how do they benefit you? I don't keep my work emails on my phone, I think its important when you finish for the evening or the weekend you take the time to unwind and put healthy boundaries between work and home life. For me, maintaining the 'to do' things I enjoy are a big part of my self care, be that going to the gym, meeting up with friends or even just taking the time to sit down and watch a movie.

Mental health challenges can affect anyone, at any time. Recognising the early signs of emotional distress is key to preventing more serious issues and maintaining a healthy, fulfilling life. Recognising Depression Depression affects people in different ways, but common signs include: Loss of interest in usual activities Social withdrawal Persistent sadness or hopelessness Feelings of guilt or worthlessness Tearfulness or irritability Physical symptoms like aches, fatigue, or changes in appetite Difficulty concentrating Anxiety often coexists with depression In the 2024 Aware national survey, over half of adults (53%) reported experiencing depression at some point in their lives. The same study found that 20.9% of adults had an official diagnosis of depression. Depression is a very common condition and anyone can experience these feelings, it doesn’t discriminate.  If you’ve felt down or lost interest in things you usually enjoy for more than two weeks, it may be time to seek support. Depression can be triggered by stress, trauma, or life changes—but sometimes it arises without a clear cause. Understanding Anxiety Anxiety is a natural response to stress or perceived threats. It can show up as: Racing thoughts or excessive worry Physical symptoms like a churning stomach, rapid heartbeat, or breathlessness Difficulty concentrating or sleeping Avoidance of certain situations While occasional anxiety is normal, it becomes a concern when it interferes with daily life or feels overwhelming. Taking Action If you recognise these symptoms in yourself: Talk to someone you trust Stay active and eat well Limit alcohol and other unhelpful coping mechanisms Reach out to your GP or support services like Thrive, which offers free, confidential emotional support including counselling and wellness coaching Suicide Prevention: What to Know The CSO estimates over 500 people die by suicide each year in Ireland. If poor mental health is left untreated or an overwhelming situation occurs, suicide ideation can manifest.  Suicidal thoughts often arise when risk factors outweigh protective ones. Risk factors may include: Bereavement or trauma Financial or relationship difficulties Mental health conditions Isolation or lack of support Protective factors include: Strong personal relationships Access to support services Personal resilience and coping skills A sense of purpose or belonging If You’re Struggling: Take suicidal thoughts seriously – don’t dismiss or ignore them Talk to someone immediately – a friend, family member, GP, counsellor, or support service (Mental Health Support Lines: HSE Support Helplines)  Identify your protective factors – relationships, routines, personal strengths, and sources of hope Avoid isolation – stay connected, even if it’s just a short message or call Create a safety plan – list people to contact, coping strategies, and reasons to stay safe Limit access to means – remove or secure anything that could be used for self-harm Seek professional help – early intervention can save lives If someone you care about seems withdrawn, irritable, or overwhelmed, check in with them. You don’t need to have all the answers, just being there and listening can make a difference. If You’re Worried About Someone: Ask them directly - it gives them the chance to open up and to talk. Don't panic and stay calm - the best you can do is to listen to them without judgement or blame. Don’t leave them alone  Help them access support – call a GP, counsellor, or emergency services if needed Follow up – check in regularly to show ongoing support  Whether you're struggling yourself or supporting someone else, early intervention and open conversations can save lives. Help is available and reaching out is a sign of strength. Thrive is the Institute's dedicated wellbeing hub, if you or someone you know are struggling, please know there is help out there. For more advice or information, contact the team by email at: thrive@charteredaccountants.ie  or by phone: (+353) 86 0243294. 

Everything doesn’t always go to plan, especially when it comes to your exams. When the results come in, you might feel like you have disappointed yourself and others. However, their disappointment is more about themselves than you and it can be overcome, says Cyril Conroy. When we don’t succeed at an exam, our heads can become flooded with thoughts and fears. We question whether we are good enough, what we did wrong and, most of all, what people will think.   There are a few things you need to keep in mind if you don’t get the result you expected in your exams. Under pressure Whatever stage of your Chartered Accountancy education you are in, the exams are hard. Really, really hard.  Because of this, you might have put a tremendous amount of time into your studies. Or, maybe you took it a little easy, thinking that you had a particular paper in the bag.  Then, a question comes up and you find yourself drawing a blank on the answer – it could be a lack of preparation, or it could be the pressure of other’s expectations making you clam up. Regardless of the reason, you have your result and it’s not good. You are down and feeling low. And it hurts. There is tremendous pressure and embarrassment when the result isn’t as good as you’d hoped it would be. Our reactions have meaning When some people fail, they just get right up, do it again and feel no pressure. Others might panic when even presented with the possibility of failing. The important thing is that we try to understand our reactions. What is driving our response to failure?  First, you should know that it’s OK to feel down in the dumps about not succeeding in your exams.  Second, know you are where you need to be. Feeling bad about the result and the prospect of repeating is understandable.  The statement “you are not an exam result” is very true. However, when presented with a less-than-stellar grade, you might feel like it does, in fact, define you.  The feeling can be exacerbated by other’s reactions. They say things like, “you’ll be fine” or “it all will work out in the end”. People throw so many clichés at you, you’ll regret ever telling anyone your result in the first place.  By making these comments, people are trying to be supportive; they are made with good intention and can be encouraging for some, just not everyone and, more importantly, they might just feel like piled-on pressure to you. We can receive encouragement and support from our parents, peers and employers but, sometimes, there can be an awful lot of expectation pointed in our direction.  Part of the reason we feel so disappointed in a bad result is because we feel we have let down our support network. Moving on When you feel the pressure from others – before, after or even during the exams – it’s important to remember that what these people do or say is more about them than it is about you. It’s about how they think you should feel and react to the pressure and expectation about your career, for good or bad. However, the way we react to these comments is about ourselves.   If you do not succeed at your exam, it’s important to separate yourself from the comments people are making about your exam result. If you are feeling overwhelmed – that the ‘failure’ overrides all words – talking to someone about the pressure could help. This could be a mentor, friend outside of the profession, or even a therapist. The word ‘fail’, simply put, is ridiculous. Things just don’t work out sometimes. Accepting this and having compassion for yourself is key at this time.  Not succeeding at something is an opportunity to learn so much about yourself. You may not feel it now, but it does make you stronger. You do learn from it.  The important thing I learned is that the fail was not me – and it’s not the definition of you, either. Thrive is the Institute's dedicated wellbeing service that provides a range of supports to members and students. If you are struggling exam disappointment, exam stress or anything related to student life, please know our in-house wellbeing team can help.  Cyril Conroy is a practicing therapist and relationship mentor in Killarney, Co Kerry.  Cyril is also a fully qualified Chartered Accountant, having worked in private practice and industry, and who failed many exams before qualifying.