Question
“I like my job, but I do the same things every day, exactly the same way. My colleagues don’t seem particularly interested in how to think or do things differently. I need to get the lead out and get inspired again. Can you help?” – Caitlyn from Boston, MA
Answer
Sometimes we get so ingrained in our day-to-day efforts that it becomes hard to see how to shake it up and break out of our routines. Whenever I find myself feeling stuck in a rut in my personal or professional life, I seek out the perspectives of others to get my thoughts and energy moving again.
Getting this kind of input can take place through face-to-face conversations; however, it can also transpire through reading books or watching videos where people share experiences and lessons learned. One of my go-to resources is TED.com (TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design) which hosts videos of speakers from around the world talking about inspiring topics and ideas.
The site hosts more than 1,400 talks – below, check out five talks that might inspire some new ideas.
Nilofer Merchant: Got a Meeting? Take a Walk
The average person sits for 9.3 hours a day. This inactivity is linked to a greater risk of health problems such as breast cancer, colon cancer, heart disease and diabetes. In this TED Talk, Nilofer Merchant talks about conducting “walking meetings” has changed his life.
“There’s this amazing thing about actually getting out of the box that leads to out-of-the-box thinking. Whether it’s nature or the exercise itself, it certainly works,” he says.
Watch the video on TED.com.
Julie Burstein: Four Lessons in Creativity
In this TED talk, radio host Julie Burstein share four lessons about creativity. They include 1) being open for the experiences that might change us; 2) embracing our challenges and find new solutions for overcoming them; 3) accept our true limitations and invest energy elsewhere; and 4) be able to “stand in that space between what we see in the world and what we hope for, looking squarely at rejection, at heartbreak, at war [and] at death.”
Watch the video on TED.com
Sheryl Sandberg: Why We Have Too Few Women Leaders
Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer at Facebook, offers three suggestions for women who plan to stay in the workforce and advance their careers. First, women need to sit at the table, meaning they need to believe they deserve success enough to reach for opportunities and stand up for themselves, even in hostile environments. Next, they need to make their partners real partners who share household and child-raising responsibilities. And finally, women need to avoid “leaving before they leave.” When women begin making plans to have children, many start quietly leaning away from work opportunities and promotions; instead, Sandberg advocates keeping the foot on the gas pedal “until the very day you need to leave to take a break for a child.”
Watch the video on TED.com.
David Pogue: 10 Top Time-Saving Tech Tips
David Pogue, personal technology columnist at The New York Times and tech correspondent for CBS News, shares 10 tricks and shortcuts about how to save time when using tools like email, smartphones and more.
Watch the video on TED.com.
Andy Puddicombe: All It Takes Is 10 Mindful Minutes
In today’s busy word, we’re always doing something – browsing the Internet, watching television, checking our phones, talking with our family members, eating food and so on. Mindfulness expert Andy Puddicombe explains why taking just 10 minutes each day to do absolutely nothing can help you decrease stress levels and learn how to be focused and present in the moment, whether you’re at work or at home.
Watch the video on TED.com.
