TED Talks Offer Advice, Understanding For Our Times

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.

Why You Should Make Useless Things Simone Giertz

There’s a lot to be stressed out about these days — making productive work difficult. In her quirky talk, Giertz encourages her audience to embrace the silly, as “building stupid things is actually smart. … removing expectations and pressure translates into enthusiasm and playfulness.”

All It Takes Is Ten Mindful Minutes Andy Puddicombe

“When did you last take time to do nothing?” asks Puddicombe, as he explains how taking time out of your day to quiet your mind and organize your thoughts can help you be more productive.

How to Stay Calm When You Know You’ll Be Stressed Daniel Levitin

Levitin encourages us to realize that, when we’re stressed, we’re not at our best; he recommends systems individuals and families can put in place when they’re making important decisions about medical care.

The Unexpected Benefits of Celebrating Failure Astro Teller

In the wake of the covid-19 outbreak, a record number of American citizens have lost their jobs and find themselves adrift and unsure of their futures; in light of this, Teller — the head of Google X — gives an optimistic talk about how disappointing events in our lives can lead to learning experiences that make the future brighter.

For Parents, Happiness Is a Very High Bar Jennifer Senior

If you’re quarantining at home with children, you might suddenly find yourself in a situation where your parenting skills are pushed to the limit. Jennifer Senior’s research has found that mothers are spending more time with their children now than they did in 1965, yet many parents still think they should be doing more. Senior’s talk assures parents that the most important thing they can give to their children is the promise that “I will never hurt you,” a vow that is “a much more realistic aim than happiness.”

5 Dangerous Things You Should Let Your Kids Do Gever Tulley

If you need to throw your kids out in the back yard so you can get some work done during this quarantine, Gever Tulley is here to tell you that’s quite all right. In fact, Tulley advocates for exposing kids to skills most people would balk at, like playing with fire and owning a pocket knife.

Agile Programming for Your Family Bruce Feiler

If family life in the middle of the pandemic is more chaotic than ever, this might be the talk for you. Feiler takes an approach to developing software and adapts it for family life. “Children’s No. 1 wish,” he says, “is for parents to be less stressed and less tired.” He thinks this system might just be the secret to granting that wish.