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Lessons Learned from Working in a Startup

by with No Comment BlogInterview SeriesReflectionTips & Tutorials
Photo by: Raphael Jian

Blog by Sera Fedirko and Raphael Jian on Jan. 8, 2021

A blog about Raphael Jian’s experience creating his small business, Alps Education.

Q: What inspired you to start Alps Education and how did you start the company?

A: One time during a visit to my friend’s home for a weekend dinner, my friends’ family members were discussing their educational investment in their children when something caught my attention: The family thought that their kids did not really benefit enough from the level of education in school here in BC, especially when there are so many new Chinese immigrants whose kids are outpacing BC children in their learning. It was clear my friend’s family members were concerned that without proper instruction, their children would fall behind in school and risk struggling later in life to find a job.

With this challenge in mind, we decided to start a business to assist new immigrants’ kids in maintaining their outstanding grades in school while also following the play-based teaching strategy of the BC curriculum. I initially partnered with Gary, my longtime friend. After speaking with other friends and connections, we decided to expand to take on more teachers, and eventually added Yumi and Mark (English teachers trained at UBC), Carl (a math teacher from KPU), and Cissy (accountant) as co-founders and core members of our teaching staff. Since then, we have added several new teachers to form a well-rounded team of 11 teachers who offer group learning and one-on-one tutoring.

Q: Can you tell me a bit about the company and its background?

A: Alps Education can be described as a play-based interactive tutoring center for grades k-12. The most unique part of our business comes from the demand of our customers (traditional Chinese parents). They prefer the Chinese teaching strategy (strict, high-pressure learning schedules) and want their kids to be among the top students in the class. To meet this demand, we combine Chinese and Canadian teaching styles to design programs that satisfy the desires of traditional Chinese parents while adapting to the Canadian context we live in. 

Many of my students are quite young (elementary school-aged), and as such, I make time to play with them when I pick them up from school. This is mostly to keep them entertained and happy, but a great side-benefit I’ve picked up on is that other kids in the schoolyard tend to get jealous of the games we play. They end up running to their parents to ask if they can join us for playtime, which ends up being an amazing way to recruit new students.

Q: Startups can look different company-to-company. What does a day-in-the-life as the owner and operator of Alps Education look like for you?

A: I’m the marketing guy in the Alps Education team, as this is what I studied at KPU. My favourite part of the job is definitely within the creation side of things – in a typical day, I’ll spend time managing our social media accounts, updating our website, and designing new programs – all of these tasks are done in the morning. In the afternoon, I draw from my background tutoring math and STEM subjects in Singapore to elementary-aged students, where I teach an after-school math course with 3-6 students. We also have a music class that teaches piano, guitar, and drums, where I teach drums. Overall, I assume the role of marketer, math teacher, and drum teacher. One of the biggest challenges for me in my business is determining how to build credibility for all of my roles. Even though I am highly qualified for all these roles with multiple years of experience, it is still challenging to build trust with my clients due to how different the roles are.

Q: What sort of expectations did you have around small business life before you created your startup vs. now?

A: I started this business with my friends during my third year at KPU. My life changed a lot after this business started. I became a super busy person who suddenly had no time to hang out with friends or to partake in weekly outdoor activities. After 3-4 months though, I eventually settled into a routine that worked for me. Even though I’m still busy as ever, running my business is worth it because I love working for myself – I’m constantly inspired to try new things. Every night before I go to sleep I brainstorm ideas about what new program we can open or what theme we should choose for the next Spring camp.

Q: What lessons have you learned since the creation of Alps Education that have made you into a better marketer / more business-savvy person?

A: The most important thing I learned is never come up with an idea just to ‘have an idea’. If you stumble upon a new idea about your business, make a mindmap or write a plan for it. That’s the best way to turn the idea into something valuable. The market is the only ‘person’ who will ultimately tell you whether or not an idea is profitable; not anyone in your team. I would consider myself the ‘idea guy’ on the Alps Education team, not only in marketing but also within the design structure for the education program. I participate in the program design with the teaching faculty, which I suppose makes me somewhat a “product manager” or “user experience designer”. 

I find enjoyment in formulating recommendations for other business owners too, even with my humble marketing background. If for example, your marketers are keen to participate in the product design process, I say “let them”! Incorporating the perspectives of your team and working cross-functionally offers a great opportunity for you to create a product that delivers with high consistency on design philosophy, product features, and selling points. Even though marketers may not help you in developing the production details of products, marketers usually think with a consumer perspective in mind, which informs the user experience. 

Q: How has attending university prepared you for starting your own business?

A: I would say that the level 3000+ courses were the most valuable for me as far as preparing me for the real business world – especially Professor Rajinder’s MRKT 3000 and 3211, which I completed prior to the COVID-19 lockdowns. I think marketing courses need more projects (such as Rajinder’s) that connect to external businesses such as local breweries or media companies to help them solve real-life marketing challenges.

Q: Any tips you can share for how to stay organized while juggling so many tasks (typical of startup life)?

A: Keep your emotions stable and in check, maintain good sleep habits, make friends with reliable classmates (especially those outstanding students), use a planner, and try not to argue with your boyfriend/girlfriend too much. Startup life is really stressful You won’t make it if your personal life is a big mess.

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LinkedIn 101: Event Recap

by with No Comment BlogEventsTips & Tutorials

Blog by Rav Dulai

Image by @inlytics via Unsplash

Feb 23, 2021

If you weren’t able to attend our latest event to learn about the in’s and out’s of LinkedIn, this event recap is perfect for you! In this blog, we will provide a quick overview of the important aspects discussed during the event, so you won’t feel like you missed out. Also, a huge thank-you to our event host, UBC Sauder student Madiha Thaver, for sharing her tips and tricks with us! 

Who is this blog made for? 

You might be wondering whether learning about LinkedIn is worth it. Well, if you fit any of these descriptions, the answer is a resounding yes! 

If you: 

  • Made a LinkedIn account for a class so you could pass and didn’t think it was really important. 
  • Have some experience on the platform, and have recently started looking for jobs and internships. 
  • Are somewhat of an active participant on LinkedIn. You engage with posts casually and connect with people frequently, but are seeking more out of the platform. 

TOPICS OF DISCUSSION 

In this event recap, we will be reiterating the importance and power of LinkedIn, discussing the five keys to LinkedIn SEO, and sharing the importance of your personal SSI (Social Selling Index)! 

BUSTING THE MYTHS 

Let’s start off by busting a few of the common myths pertaining to LinkedIn.

Myth #1: LinkedIn is only useful when job hunting 

Many individuals, including myself, refrain from utilizing LinkedIn because they believe it is only meant for those who are seeking jobs. However, Madiha reassures us that this could not be further from the truth! There are endless opportunities and benefits awaiting those who utilize the platform, such as connecting with like-minded professionals to share resources and life experiences, finding interesting events to keep your mind sharp, and it keeps a virtual address-book of professionals (your contacts) that you can lean on for support (ask for advice, check out their path to career success, or recommend them for a job or gig you’re offering). LinkedIn can be useful even before and after job hunting. In fact, many mentorship opportunities may present themselves –  you never know who will reach out to you or come across your feed! Don’t be afraid to ask someone if they’ll be your mentor – extra experience is always an asset, and generally most professionals in the industry are happy to ‘pay-it-forward’ to help a student! After learning of all the possibilities and experiences that can be attained through this platform, I was the first to update my LinkedIn at the end of this event!

Myth #2: LinkedIn is purely a job hunting site 

It is important to remember that LinkedIn is a two way street. While there are individuals seeking jobs and looking to be recruited, on the other hand there are companies also looking for people with our skills: Be sure to research and interview your employer to see if they are a good fit for you as much as they want to know if you fit into their organization! Are they a place where you will thrive and extract value from? If you maintain a consistent effort to keep your LinkedIn updated, you are likely to become viewed as a viable prospect for companies looking to hire through LinkedIn, since it’s like a virtual resumé. Madiha’s best piece of advice on attracting opportunities best suited for you and your experiences: “Treat your LinkedIn as your personal website, and use it to showcase the best of your abilities”. Look to professionals in your network that you admire – how do they optimize their LinkedIn and showcase their personal brand? Finding profiles to emulate will help you to model your LinkedIn profile after theirs, which will help you attract recruiters. Eventually, the job offers might start rolling in without you even looking for them!

Madiha also recommends practicing SEO tactics on your LinkedIn account. 

What is SEO? 

SEO, short for Search Engine Optimization, is the practice of increasing the quantity and quality of traffic to your website through organic search engine results. The goal is to modify your account to best optimize it for the jobs you want to attract. By including keywords relating to a specific field, engaging with posts on your feed regularly, and taking advantage of all the different features available to you, your profile will start to rank higher in the search results for recruiters and others trying to find your page.

Madiha shared 5 keys to unlocking key words 

Remember, 5, 4, 3 ,2, 1…. 

5: Repeat your key words five times 

4: Have 4 relevant skills 

3: Endorse 3 people 

2: Join 2 groups 

1: Use keyword in your headline (at least) once

Myth #3: LinkedIn is a guessing game 

So, you have gathered all this information about the power of LinkedIn and all the opportunities it can bring for you, and are ready to get started on your LinkedIn journey. However, you may now be thinking to yourself, “Well even if I do all of this and follow all the tips, how would I even know where I am going to show up on the search engine?”  This is where your SSI Score comes into play. 

What is an SSI score? 

Your SSI, short for Social Selling Index, is a measure used to determine your position or ranking amongst others within your network on LinkedIn. Your SSI is a combination of factors relating to your effectiveness in portraying yourself. The four components that derive your SSI score are: establishing your professional brand, finding the right people, engaging with insights, and building relationships. To calculate your personalized SSI score and see how you rank in each of the four components, click here.

Madiha highlights the importance of building relationships when it comes to improving your SSI score. A great way to initiate this action is to build relationships with others by sending personalized messages. When thinking of what to include in your message, it is important to keep in mind the amount of messages that person may receive from others as well. So, it is important to stand out and start out with a personal note or tidbit to catch their attention. Try to look beyond the generic information, and focus on something beyond that, such as how  you both are part of similar groups (if that’s the case), and relate to them on that front. Also, try to get to know them and build a base for your relationship before jumping into setting up a call. Madiha likes to think of this as similar to a dating site! If they barely know you, chances are, they won’t be as interested in forming a lasting connection with you (so build that relationship first!). Lastly, always make sure to thank them for their time. 

Terminology:

Social Selling Index – A score derived from your combined ability to effectively portray your brand, build relationships, find the right people, and engage with insights. 

Search Engine Optimization – The practice of increasing the quantity and quality of traffic to your website through organic search engine results. This can be done by modifying your account to best match the jobs you want to attract. 

LinkedIn Keywords – Specific keywords on LinkedIn are used to describe your skills and expertise so that it is easier for recruiters or employers looking for your skill-sets to find your profile. By using buzzwords found in job descriptions of roles you’re aspiring to in your LinkedIn profile (provided you have these skills), you’ll be more easily discoverable!

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Social Media Marketing with Jelly Marketing’s Darian Kovacs

by with No Comment BlogEvents

Image by @helloimnik via Unsplash

Blog by Sera Fedirko

Jan 14, 2021

If you weren’t able to make it to our last event to learn all about social media marketing, don’t despair! We’ve got the crash course right here, complete with all the resources you’ll need to get started.

Who is Darian Kovacs?

Darian is the co-founder of the award-winning Jelly Marketing agency, a celebrated podcast host at Marketing News Canada, an Instructor at his agency’s own Jelly Academy (promo code link at the end of the article), and an overall industry veteran committed to sharing knowledge and giving back to those passionate about marketing. He’s the type of person to replace the expression “kill two birds with one stone” with “feed two birds with one grain”, which is infinitely more positive, kind, and kid-friendly. (For the record, he did use the latter expression very nonchalantly in conversation, and it was a pleasant shock to the system). Darian’s electric presence never fails to light up the room and captivate your attention, and we cannot express how deeply lucky we are to have him return as our event host.

The Best of the Q&A with Darian:

Have you ever talked about a certain product with your phone off, then later that day an ad shows up for that same item? I’m wondering about privacy laws concerning this.

We as marketers don’t have access to and can’t buy voice data. [My guess is that the voice data collected by phones and Amazon Alexa-type things is that] it might affirm the lookalike data. Ads have gotten so good that [it now seems that marketers] know what you’re thinking before you know what you’re thinking. It can definitely be creepy when it gets into the wrong hands, but it will keep happening until regulations and policies are introduced to enforce data privacy. I do know though that cookies are going away soon for privacy reasons – unsure what marketing will look like in the next year so the industry will need to adapt somehow.

I also imagine this data comes up as aggregate data (which would mean it can’t be traced back to you) in Google trends, which is a free tool that allows marketers to study tends around the world by state/province. A paid version of this is https://answerthepublic.com/ , which visualizes the search terms by category in a web. Some applications for Google Trends include the following:  

  • The CDC has used Google Trends to see if there’s a disease outbreak. If the daily searches for a condition go from 20 ppl to 2000, they can conclude there is an outbreak happening.
  • Marketers can see trends for people searching to buy bicycles or cat sweater during Covid
  • At Jelly Marketing, we can figure out what keyword synonyms are most often used in searches to help target ads better.
  • If you wanted to look into anti-spam laws, check out CASL

Could you share your favourite or most successful campaign you’ve done for a client?

It’s called a social media feed, right? We have a client called MCC – they’re one of the top 3 refugee support organization in the world, (Competitors include the Red Cross and the WHO). The goal of the campaign was to create awareness about a refugee-feeding program. What Jelly ended up doing was contacting a slew of foodie and fashion influencers to ask “would you post a photo of an empty bowl with #feedtofeed ?”. The creators happily agreed, and the result definitely disrupted the social feeds of many and became a very impactful campaign.

What’s your approach to TikTok as a marketing agency?

I think it’s best to work with existing TikTok users and giving them the modus operandi. Better to go with native speakers and creators than going in blind to create content. If you decide to create content yourself, you need to be up-to-date on the daily/weekly trends.

I’d been trying to get The Hudson’s Bay on the show for a while, but I was inspired to write when I heard they partnered with Schitt’s Creek on a recent campaign featuring two of the leading actresses on the show who happened to be white. Given that The Hudson’s Bay has a long history of colonialism dating back over 100 years, I thought:

Imagine if you’d taken that $100,000 (a rough estimate of how much the campaign may have cost to pay these white actresses) and given it to 100 Black, Indigenous, body-positive, acne-prone, braces-clad, or any other kind of diverse group – that could be the new definition of ‘Canadian’. The Hudson’s Bay had an opportunity [at an especially important time to act since they are struggling to stay relevant] to not spend $100,000 on white people. Sure, it may be more work to hire a bunch of people as opposed to two people, but it would show Canada that the company embraces Canadian culture and wants to make reparations for its past colonialist behaviour. This ad campaign just showed how unconnected the company is from the great diversity that truly represents Canada.

  • If you can go in [to your workplace] and use your power to make great decisions, that’s way better than sticking to the status quo.
  • I was asked to speak on an American panel recently, and I asked them to make a diverse group of panelists. They said they ‘didn’t know anyone non-white’. That shows that ‘established’ people in the industry are primarily white – this was another opportunity to break that power structure to include more POC. Similarly, if you happen to be POC with power and budget, why not empower more people like you?
  • The Tim Hortons’ campaign did a good job of capturing the diversity in Canadians in their recent Christmas campaign.

You’ve mentioned using Hootsuite and Linktree before – what other tools is Jelly using?

Yes! We’ve been Hootsuite fans from the beginning – switched to Sprout, then went back to Hootsuite. They’re a B-Corp!

  • Callrail to monitor incoming calls to the company
  • Canva for graphic design needs

What do you think the next big social platform will be?

Depends on the audience. If we’re speaking in terms of B2C:

  • Pinterest – it’s like a sleeping giant. (for data/conversions on b2c side)

Storytime: Vega (the supplement/smoothie company) spent a ton of money working with influencers – when studying goals, the #1 channel for conversion was actually Pinterest on desktop! People look for smoothie recipes, they’re most often on Pinterest on desktop, and thus that’s where the conversions happen!

  • Reddit – we’ve barely scratched the surface on all that’s there. Great for community-building.
  • E-newsletters – highest conversions spot! Not ‘leased land’. It’s your own to do whatever you please with.

Some links that may interest you:

  • $1000 Jelly Academy Discount: Use the code JA2021-1000 for student pricing – offered online during covid!
  • Zapier for platform integrations and automations
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‘Intro to Podcasting’ Event Recap

by with No Comment BlogEventsTips & Tutorials

By: Oneil Aujla

This blog is designed to be a quick recap of discussed subject matters within podcasting, as well a resource to find books, magazines, podcasts, and notable people that were mentioned during the event. (Thank you Darian from Jelly Marketing for taking the time to host this virtual event!)

Who is Darian & What is Jelly Marketing?

Darian Kovacs is an expert communicator and businessman with over 15 years of experience in marketing, communications, and public relations. Through his award-winning company, Jelly Marketing & PR, Darian has worked with various local, national, and global brands. He has helped to build and execute Jelly Marketing’s digital & PR strategies, while also having co-founded the Canadian Internet Marketing Conference. Darian has been featured in BC Business magazine, Business in Vancouver magazine, and on the Canada Post training circuit. He is a contributor to Small Business BC, Entrepreneur Magazine, and to both Rogers and Shaw’s Business Resource Centre for topics including social media and PR.1

Q&A with Darian:

Q: How long should a podcast be?

A: As long as you feel your audience will listen to you! There is no standard time that works for every podcast. If you feel that people will stop listening after a certain point, then that is when you should end the podcast.

Q: How do I market my podcast?

A:  Reddit and Quora are two overlooked marketing channels that are great tools to spread the news about one’s podcast. They allow you to target your niche demographic directly with different “sub-reddits” [or discussion topics within Quora] that users already subscribe to. You can also market your podcast via other people’s podcasts by becoming a paid sponsor (inserting your own audio reel or having the other host mention your podcast) if you feel their audiences would be interested in your podcast. 

Q: What software should I use to edit my podcast?

A: One of the easiest softwares to use is GarageBand. It comes with all Apple computers and is very simple to use. If you don’t have a Mac, there are tons of other editing softwares online, such as Pro Tools and Adobe Audition.

Q: What kind of equipment will I need and where can I get it? (microphones, cameras, software, etc..)

A: Amazon is a great place to look for microphones, noise cancelling foam plates, and other equipment, however you do not need fancy equipment to make a great podcast! There is equipment available within everyone’s budget. My personal favourite microphone is the Blue Snowball brand.

Q: How much time goes into preparing a podcast?

A: It all depends on the topic for the podcast and if you have a guest. Sometimes a sponsored guest may have an agenda of what they would like to talk about. In that scenario, we have been given a list of what to talk about and what not to talk about. Other times, we have some guided talking points and we let the conversion flow naturally. However, sometimes we do spend a lot of time researching the guest or a topic and have a plan on what we want to talk about. Every episode has a different strategy and requires different amounts of time and prep work.

Q: How do I decide on a theme for my podcast?

A: Find a niche that you have a passion for. You can make a podcast about anything nowadays! If you have an existing audience already, then please ask them! They may have suggestions on what they’d like to learn about next.

Q: How do I publish a podcast (on Spotify, website, etc….)?

A: Anchor.fm is my personal favourite. This is a great place to post your podcast to instantly upload it to 11 podcasting channels! Great for saving time. Works similar to Hootsuite, but for Podcasts.

Bonus Content:

Template for Messaging Guests

Darian was kind enough to share a version of the template he uses to contact people to be a guest on his show, as follows:

It’d be an honour to host you on our show Marketing Jam – www.jellymarketing.ca

We’ve interviewed Malcolm Gladwell, Seth Godin, Guy Kawasaki and many others from LEGO, Starbucks, and Disney. We also have our show on Amazon Prime Video! 

Here are some stat pages for your team – Jelly Marketing Stats and more info here: Jelly Marketing Sponsorship Deck

(Note* Please ignore all the sponsorship stuff – these are just the docs we have with all the stats. This is a pure editorial.)

Could we set up a time and date to look at this year to do an interview over Skype?

Links:

Below is a list of books, magazines, people, and podcasts that Darian recommends for anyone interested in being a better podcaster or marketer.

Books:

Explains how small differences over time can leave to big results later on.

An entertaining and informative guide to a wide variety of important business topics such as social media, customer service, and viral content.

Magazines:

Learn what it takes to Stand Out & Build Market Share in this Complex Environment. 

Strategy Magazine is dedicated to helping executives, strategists, managers, and other professionals better formulate, implement, execute, engage, and govern strategies.

People:

Godin is known as ‘the ultimate entrepreneur for the information age’. He is an American writer and has written 17 books addressing various aspects of marketing, advertising, business venturing and leadership.

Guy Kawasaki is a marketing specialist, author, and Silicon Valley venture capitalist. He was one of the Apple employees originally responsible for marketing their Macintosh computer line.

Podcasts:

Canada’s #1 show on all things marketing. The hosts interview some of the top people from Google, Twitter, and beyond to get their inputs on everything marketing. 

Provides historical context to how marketing was created and the transformation of it over the years.

Goes back in-time to reinterpret an event, person, or idea that was misunderstood by looping in new insights.

A publication about everything marketing-related in Canada. 

References:

1 https://talentbureau.com/speaker/darian-kovacs/

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3 Ways Students Can Save Money In Vancouver

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By MJ Dewji

Being a student is extremely challenging for your mind, your body, and of course… your wallet. Finances are not something you should have to worry about as a student. However, it is unfortunately an area of concern for most students these days. Here are 3 ways that you as a student can save money in a city as expensive as Vancouver:

1. Facebook Exchange Groups

These are extremely key and most universities have them. An example is the book exchange group at KPU pictured here:

*Image obtained from Facebook.com

These groups are crucial in allowing you to find second-hand textbooks for cheap. Tuition already costs you an arm and a leg, so at least you can save a bit on some second-hand textbooks. Not only can you save here, but once you are done with a textbook, you can come back to these groups and resell it to other students. Cha-Ching! It is always a win-win situation for both the seller and the buyer here.

2. Purchasing Online/PDF Textbooks

We’ve all been there: lugging our textbooks around in our heavy backpacks, thinking to ourselves that not only is this textbook super expensive, but so will the physio treatments be for that sore back! The solution is clear: online or pdf textbooks. This alternative not only is cheaper, but it is much more environmentally-friendly! A website that you can use to purchase online textbooks that seem to have all the textbooks is VitalSource. You can purchase textbooks on this website for up to 80% less than you would spend on physical textbooks.

3. Apps That Help Save You Money

As a student, you can’t avoid going either grocery shopping or out with your friends. Let’s be honest, it’s expensive! Those bills add up and sometimes you can’t exactly do anything about it. We may have a solution for you…there are apps out there that help you save while spending money! In fact, two Vancouver based companies are here to help you. The first company is called Perk Hero. They are an app that allows you to earn cashback rewards on what you spend. You can find great deals from local and international e-commerce brands all while earning redeemable loyalty points – score! 

The second company is called Yumii Rewards. If you are ever going out for bubble tea or dessert with your friends, this app is perfect for you. You get rewards for purchasing bubble tea or dessert at certain locations around Vancouver, which then turn into free purchases and discounts. They are essentially your Vancouver-based stamp card for bubble tea! Both these companies are great as they support local Vancouver based companies while also supporting local Vancouverite students’ wallets.

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Resources Available to You as a Student – Virtual Edition

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By Colby Davidson

Stressed student
Image by Tim Gouw via Unsplash

The Learning Centre (TLC)

With no on-campus classes or activities, it can be hard to adjust to building your own classroom at home. I personally miss studying in the library or finding secret spots on campus to read my textbook chapters.  One of the biggest resources I miss visiting is The Learning Centre at KPU. Multiple times throughout my semesters I have gone there to receive help from peer tutors, especially before exams. Unfortunately, those in-person sessions are no longer available to students because of the current pandemic. However, many students don’t know that there are still resources for them to use in order to help them be successful during this constantly-changing time.

Big news – The Learning Centre has gone virtual. The website lists multiple resources, including informational videos for reading, taking notes, and exam prep – they have even included a video dedicated to the concept of online learning. Beyond video resources, they have educational text-based resources on managing time, communication and more. Visiting the site will definitely help any student boost their confidence when it comes to their academic studies.

For those of you who miss those tutor sessions, you will be excited to hear that online tutoring is now available for students at KPU! You can book your session online with the link provided on The Learning Centre’s website for the date and time that the tutor is available. If you’re feeling nervous, check out the video on preparing for an online tutor session which will have you feeling ready for your first session.

My SSP Counselling and Support App

Beyond academics, KPU is promoting a 24/7 student support program called My SSP (an app) by Keep.meSAFE, which provides all KPU students with 24/7 professional counselling. On the app you will gain access to a large, diverse network of professional counsellors that matches your unique circumstances with a counsellor who understands these experiences in your preferred language and culture. Counsellors can provide immediate support and referrals to address a range of concerns. The best way to access the program is through the MySSP app where you can call or chat with a counsellor at any time.

Virtual Appointments with KPU Support Staff

Finally, offices like KPU international, academic advising, and financial aid have all gone virtual and are available for online appointments. Whether you have questions about what studying in Canada is like, if you need help planning out your semester, or even if you are curious about what scholarships are available to you, these offices are at your disposal.

While you may feel like you are alone in your studies or you are scared to reach out for help, just know that everyone is struggling with something during this time. You are not alone and the KPU community is here to help each and every student be successful in both their studies and in life.

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5 Tips for Managing Stress and Anxiety During Covid-19

by with No Comment BlogTips & Tutorials

Funny covid-19 referencePhoto by: Eric Mclean via Unsplash

Blog by Navi Gill

 

Feeling stressed and anxious are not unfamiliar feelings for students, especially right now with COVID-19 impacting our lives. Nearly two-thirds of students reported experiencing “overwhelming anxiety,” according to the latest Canadian national college health assessment (Global News, 2019).

 

Below are 5 simple tips to reduce stress and anxiety during this pandemic:

 

 1. Have a routine.

 

 

Having a routine is a great way to stay organized and live a well-balanced life. A routine doesn’t have to be long; it can be a simple list of 4-5 things you would like to do daily.

 

This is an example of what your routine may look like:

 

  • Wake up by 9am.
  • Make breakfast.
  • Check emails.
  • Go for a 30-minute walk.
  • Complete 3 tasks (laundry, homework, running errands etc.)

 

Now that you’ve completed your routine, you can spend the remainder of your day doing whatever you feel like! This will not only give you a sense of accomplishment – it will help improve your mental health too.

 

 2. Minimize screen time.

 

 

Excessive screen time can lead to poor mental health, weight gain, and sleep problems (Comprehensive Primary Care, 2019). So how can we limit our screen time? Take a look at the tips below:

 

  •          Use the “limit screen time” setting in your mobile phone or on your TV.
  •          Turn on the “silent” setting on your phone to prevent notifications from appearing.
  •          Limit your social media notifications so they don’t distract from the more important parts of your day.

 

3. Take care of your physical health.

 

Staying active is critical to your mental health. Here are a few tips on looking after your physical well being:

 

  • Eat well-balanced meals at regular times.
  • Get enough sleep (sleeping at similar times each day can help your routine).
  • Exercise daily – try finding a new outdoor hobby! 
  • Wear proper protection when you leave your home (plastic gloves, cloth or medical-grade disposable face mask, etc.)
  • Wash your hands frequently.

 4. Spend some time outside.

 

 

Spending time outside doesn’t mean you have to do a high-intensity activity, it can be as simple as sitting outside without any distractions. I’ve listed a few ideas below:

 

  • Go for a walk/run/jog in your neighborhood or at a park.
  • Watch the sunrise / sunset at a beach or a lake.
  • Take a hike up at your nearest local mountain.
  • Try new sports (soccer, basketball, tennis, badminton, softball, volleyball, etc.)
  • Host a small distanced picnic or barbeque.

 

5. Learn a new skill.

 

 

Whether it’s taking an online course or learning a new hobby, there is a ton you can learn! Many courses are being offered for free during this time – Below is a list of websites that offer *some free courses:

 

 

References:

https://globalnews.ca/news/5878420/post-secondary-mental-illness/

https://comprehensiveprimarycare.com/is-too-much-screen-time-impacting-my-quality-of-life/