With the Leaving Cert results last week, many people are about to start a new chapter in their lives.
Whether it’s still living at home but starting in a new college, or moving away from home to start your third level education, the next stage after the Leaving Cert can be nerve-wracking.
Pat Divilly, who is a health and wellness expert, spoke exclusively to VIP about his top tips for coping with the big change, without getting stressed out.
Speaking on his own experiences, Pat says that giving up things that you love, can hinder your new chapter.
“The biggest mistake for me was I let go of hobbies I had as a teenager. I turned to just having a social life and going out, which is fine, but I stopped doing guitar and martial arts, the things I was really passionate about.”
“Those things you’re passionate about give you confidence, and help you with stress management, they ticket so many boxes,” he told VIP.
He added that many adults give up their hobbies after they leave secondary school.
“Most adults lose those things, when you’re in school you might play sport and when you leave school most people stop sport, and then suddenly you’re hitting thirty and haven’t trained in six years!”
Whether focusing on weight loss, fitness or personal life, Pat’s programmes always have an aspect of mindfullness, and the 29-year-old says people often don’t understand what is meant by the term.
“So my advice would be, whatever your new chapter is, try to hold on to the things that have served you in the last. Whether it’s music or sports or dance, we’ve all got a certain amount of things we connect with.
“That’s what meditation is, people think meditation is sitting under a tree, but it’s just doing something you enjoy where you’re not stressing.”
Pat is taking part in Visa’s #TapIntoIreland road trip across Ireland, along with James Kavanagh, Doireann Garrihy, Rob Kenny and Anouska, kicking off on Thursday. The gang will document their amazing Irish experiences recommended by their followers. The only catch is, each adventure must cost less that €30, which they can pay for by tapping their Visa contactless card. You can keep up with the influencers on their social media channels!