What is Thrive?

Struggling to balance work, life and study? Edel Walsh shares the power of the “one percent rule” – a simple yet effective approach to tackling exams through small, daily wins that add up to big success You are juggling your personal life, a demanding job and the pressure of professional exams. Time is limited, and there never seems to be enough hours in the day. While you may be trying to study after a long day’s work, you might feel tired and stressed, unsure of where to begin. The sheer volume of information can be overwhelming, leading to procrastination. However, the good news is that small efforts in your study can yield significant results.  Embrace the power of “one percent improvement” or the “one percent rule”, as I call it. This focuses on making small, daily progress towards your study and exam goals. How it works Instead of trying to tackle the entire syllabus in one go, ask yourself, “What can I do today to get just one percent in my exam?” One percent could be: Reading a single page of a textbook and doing a brain dump afterwards. Solving one practice question from your question bank. Reviewing a single accounting standard and doing a practice quiz on this. Testing yourself on your bank of flashcards. Watching a five-minute video lecture and reflecting on what you learned in that video. While initially this may feel slow and like you are making little progress on your syllabus, before you know it, all of the one percent will have turned into a significant amount of study and learning.  When you are studying, I recommend you start your study session by setting yourself a learning goal.  For example, “Today I want to earn one percent in my financial reporting exam by learning and understanding the double entry booking for the acquisition of fixed assets”.  Then, do your focused learning and study for 25 minutes. This might include reading your notes on the topic, doing a brain dump of what you have just read and doing a practice question without the solutions in front of you.  Once your 25 minutes is up, you must hold yourself to account. Did you achieve your learning goal? If yes, celebrate this small win. If not, that’s okay. What can you do the next time you study this topic to enhance your understanding?  Why one percent matters Starting your study is often the hardest part. Sometimes, you don’t know where to start! By focusing on such a small, achievable goal, like “what can I do today to earn one percent in my exam?”, you eliminate the fear of everything that needs to be covered, and you start building momentum.  To run a marathon, you must start by taking the first step. The one percent rule builds consistency in your study routine. Even 25 minutes of focused study to get your one percent each day is far more effective than cramming right before your exam.  Consistency is key to long-term learning and retention. Learning must be slow and effortful for it to be effective. The one percent rule encourages continuous improvement. By consistently making small gains and progress in your study, you will gradually build a strong foundation of knowledge. It focuses on progress, not perfection. This approach shifts your mindset from achieving perfection to celebrating the small wins.  Tips for implementation Schedule dedicated study time  Fifteen to thirty minutes of uninterrupted focus study time each day can make a significant difference.  As you all have busy jobs to contend with as well as your study and personal life, it is important to be realistic about when you can schedule this dedicated study time.  For example, if you commute to work, you could bring your flash cards with you and test yourself on your commute.  If you find you are too exhausted to study when you come home from work, can you get up 30 minutes earlier in the morning and get your studying done before the day starts? Look at the options that are available to you. Use the Pomodoro technique The Pomodoro technique is focusing on a task for 25-minute intervals with short, five-minute breaks.  This helps maintain focus and concentration, boosts motivation and can act as a deterrent to procrastination. It will result in higher productivity.  Reward yourself  Celebrate your small victories. Celebrate your “one percent”.  This will keep you motivated. Embracing growth Accountancy exams are undoubtedly challenging. However, by embracing the one percent rule, you can transform your study from an overwhelming hurdle to a series of manageable steps.  While one percent may seem insignificant, the impact of consistent, incremental progress can be incredible. This compounding effect can lead to exponential growth in your knowledge and understanding. It’s not about achieving perfection. It is about consistent, incremental progress. Focus on making small, daily improvements, and see your knowledge and confidence grow.

Becoming a Chartered Accountant is a commitment that requires intense dedication, determination and resilience. This pursuit, especially during exam season, can become overwhelming and mentally taxing. Niamh Manning shares some strategies to help students manage their mental health during their studies Exam season is a particularly stressful time in a student's life. With a heavy workload, tight deadlines and high expectations, stress is an inevitable part of the journey. But by building resilience, confidence and strength, you can make it as stress-free as possible. It’s all about timing  Proper time management helps reduce stress by allowing us to tackle tasks in a more organised manner. Before you set off on a day of study, be strategic about your day and set goals and actions. Think realistically about how much you can achieve in a day and create a timetable with breaks throughout.  A tried-and-tested study method is the Pomodoro technique, in which you study for 25 minutes and then take a five-minute break. This encourages focused study periods and helps you avoid burnout. It also helps improve your focus and keeps the material fresh in your mind. Treat yourself  Maintaining focus and momentum during study periods can feel like a marathon. The enormity of the task at hand can feel daunting and overwhelming.  Instead of focusing on the long-distance finish line like passing your exams, break down your days and weeks into small manageable goals and celebrate and reward yourself when you reach these milestones.  Short-term rewards can provide a sense of progress and can help you keep going when you hit that proverbial wall.  Health is wealth  While it may seem obvious, we can’t emphasise enough just how important it is to look after your mental and physical health during this time.   Exerting so much energy, physically and mentally on to your study and exams can leave you feeling fatigued, drained and emotional, leaving you vulnerable to exhaustion. Sleeping eight hours a night, exercising daily and eating well are extremely important for protecting yourself from burnout, reducing your stress levels and increasing your energy.  Hydration is paramount as dehydration can lead to headaches, poor concentration and fatigue. Drinking enough water throughout the day ensures that the body remains energised and can process information effectively. Micro-moments of relaxation  We all know that maintaining a healthy lifestyle is essential, but we can often neglect the power of active resting. Taking small moments of relaxation throughout the day can help reset focus and restore energy.  Take a few minutes every day to engage in relaxation techniques.  For example, when you feel tension building, take two to three minutes out to close your eyes, stretch or take a breath. These brief moments can prevent stress from accumulating, lower your heart rate and provide a quick mental rest.   It is also important to include longer periods of relaxation during the week where you completely disconnect from your studies and enjoy the things you love guilt-free. This allows you to recharge your batteries, helps improve concentration and promotes emotional balance. Support network  Due to the intense nature of exams and study, students may shut themselves off and isolate at a time when peer support is important and can significantly benefit them.  A strong support system offers emotional support, advice and a sense of camaraderie. Students can cultivate this sense of support by connecting with fellow students, colleagues, friends and family.  Study groups can also be extremely helpful, allowing participants to share knowledge and collaborate. They also provide a certain study schedule and can help keep you honest about your study efforts.  Many of you will be surrounded by members and alumni who have already gone through the journey and have first-hand experience of being a Chartered Accountancy student. Reaching out to such peers can provide invaluable guidance and encouragement.  Remaining resilient Becoming a Chartered Accountant is a challenging but rewarding journey, and students can excel and persevere by remaining resilient and focused.  It is important to remember that mental health is as important and crucial as academic success, and looking after yourself is imperative for long-term success, both professionally and personally.   Also, keep in mind the many student supports available to you through Thrive. The Thrive Wellbeing Hub provides a comprehensive mental health and wellness programme with a wide range of services tailored to our students’ needs. For more advice and information, check out Thrive’s Wellbeing Hub. Alternatively, you can contact the team by email at thrive@charteredaccountants.ie or phone at (+353) 86 0243294 Niamh Manning is a Marketing and Fundraising Officer with the Thrive Wellbeing Team at Chartered Accountants Ireland

Yesterday (March 6), Thrive and the Institute’s Member Experience team welcomed guests to our Step into your Power Sparkling Lunch in celebration of International Women’s Day.    Check out photos from the event here. In the wonderful surroundings of the Dean Townhouse, we were joined by members and students of the chartered community.  In her opening address, Dee France, from the Institute’s Thrive Wellbeing Hub, outlined the importance of shining a spotlight on some of the key challenges women face in the workplace and in society, while celebrating the many advances made in recent times.  Guests enjoyed a keynote speech from Eimer Lyons, founder of Well Rise Coaching, entitled “The Importance Of Healthy Boundaries” where attendees were encouraged to establish boundaries as a non-negotiable for a balanced, fulfilling career and life. Áine Crotty, Head of Compliance (UK & Europe) at nib Group, facilitated a panel discussion covering some key issues of the day namely barriers encountered and inclusive changes to the workplace, the importance of male allyship and leadership, challenges faced by working mothers and broached the topic of burnout and how it shows up for women. The panellists - Nifemi Ogunbiyi, Financial Account at Fenergo, Gillian Bane, Founder of Well Work 360, Katharine Mulcahy, Sales Excellence and Strategy Lead at Microsoft and Barry Doyle, President of Chartered Accountants Ireland -  shared many important insights on these topics and how they navigate their own personal challenges and successes both in their professional and personal lives.   The final segment of the afternoon was a fireside chat with Lorna Conn, Chief Executive Officer at CPL and Cróna Clohisey, Director of Advocacy & Voice at Chartered Accountants Ireland. Lorna reflected on the highs and lows of her career, how resilience helps build leaders and how she manages and balances her professional and personal life. The event was also raising funds for CA Support (the Institute’s in-house charity). In his opening address, Barry Doyle spoke about the Institute’s commitment to supporting the success and wellbeing of our female members through career and wellbeing initiatives and highlighted the important work of CA Support, encouraging those in the room to donate to CA Support as the majority of the cases the charity support are families – mothers and fathers who have encountered adversity and are in dire need of assistance.  If you would like to donate to CA Support in celebration of International Women’s Day, please do so here.