The first TED Conference was held in 1990. The brain child of architect and graphic designer Richard Saul Wurman, the conference brought together the brightest stars in the arenas of technology, entertainment and design. As it became more popular, the roster of topics expanded to include religion, music, business, philanthropy, philosophy and science. In 2006, the conference started streaming the brief, concise presentations online; for this singular age we find ourselves in -- the age of a global pandemic -- we've curated some of the most pertinent TED Talks to help guide you through to the other side. To see the videos, visit ted.com and search the title.
Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator/Tim Urban
For those who may be finding it difficult to stay motivated while working from home: the popular Internet writer Tim Urban gives a funny but poignant talk about "what goes on in the head of procrastinators and why we are the way we are -- instant gratification monkeys." The big reveal of the talk is the difference between procrastination with a deadline and procrastinating without a deadline -- examples include starting your own business, writing a book, exercising or spending more time with family which, explains Urban, can make us "feel like a spectator in our own lives."
How to Make Stress Your Friend/Kelly McGonigal
Stress is universal right now, making psychologist Kelly McGonigal's findings about how to keep stress from detrimentally affecting your physical health particularly pertinent.
How to be Your Best Self in Times of Crisis/Susan David
This 45-minute virtual conversation with Susan David finds the psychologist answering questions from people all over the world about best practices during this global health pandemic.
3 Questions to Ask Yourself About Everything You Do/Stacy Abrams
Former Georgia Rep. Stacy Abrams narrowly lost the Georgia gubernatorial race in 2018, and she uses that experience -- along with other formative events she experienced growing up black in the South -- to motivate others to achieve their goals.
The Best Way to Help Is Often to Listen/Sophie Andrews
People are hurting right now, and it's hard to know how to help. In this moving presentation, Sophie Andrews haltingly tells the harrowing story about how a 24-hour hotline saved her life when she was a physically abused 14-year-old, leading her to realize that "that simple act of listening could have such a life-changing effect."
Got a Meeting? Take a Walk/Nilofer Merchant
Working from home means fewer opportunities to get out and about during the work day. Nilofer Merchant points out that many diseases -- like breast and colon cancer -- are directly tied to non-activity, leading her to conduct meetings as she walks, an out-of-the-box practice that "leads to out-of-the-box thinking."
Every Kid Needs a Champion/Rita Pierson
In an era where parents suddenly find themselves home-schooling, veteran teacher Rita Pierson's tear-jerker of a presentation is a testament to how important your child's teachers are -- and how important your new job as their educator now is. "Kids don't learn from people they don't like," says Pierson.
Why Working from Home Is Good for Business/Matt Mullenweg
If you've never had to work from home before, this sudden change might be quite disruptive. Mullenweb's brisk talk is a great primer on how to make working from home more productive.
NAN What's Up on 04/12/2020