If you’re a university student you have probably thought: Why am I even doing this? Maybe you’re a year and a half into your course and the novelty has worn off. Or perhaps you’re a third year and the dissertation stress has just kicked in.
Regardless of your situation, we could all do with an uplift from time to time. Finding motivation is difficult. But a push in the right direction makes it easier. With this being said, here are some Ted talks that completely changed my perspective.
Emilie Wapnick: ‘Why some of us don’t have one try calling’
This is the perfect TED talk for students who aren’t set on a future career path. Emilie Wapnick considers the anxiety-inducing question: ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’
She tells us that this question is rooted in our culture and it makes us believe we should have a ‘true calling’. But Emilie says we don’t have to choose.
While society may disregard people with multiple interests, Emilie describes them as ‘multipotentialites’. She encourages those who are wired this way to embrace it. It is definitely worth a watch if you don’t know what to do in the future.
Tim Urban: ‘Inside the mind of a master procrastinator’
Tim Urban gives an entertaining and insightful talk on procrastination. He invites us inside the mind of a master procrastinator and simply explains what’s going on. While this is a fun and light-hearted talk, it can really resonate with most students. Especially those with ADHD and those who often struggle with the structure of academia.
Tim concludes by suggesting we are all procrastinators and, even though some of us are better than others, we are all putting off something in our lives. For a better insight, watch it now, don’t just add it to your watch list for three months.
Amy Cuddy: ‘Your body language may shape who you are’
Amy Cuddy offers a fascinating talk on body language. She stresses the importance of body language and how our bodies can change our minds, as well as our behaviours.
She beautifully relates the facts to her own experience of imposter syndrome. Any student who lacks confidence or has low-self esteem should watch this speech; especially if you feel like you don’t belong at university.
Kelly McGonigal: ‘How to make stress your friend’
Kelly McGonigal is a health psychologist who has demonised stress for the past 10 years. Like many of us, she viewed stress as the enemy and believed it was bad for our health. But in this talk she completely rethinks stress, and urges the audience to do the same.
This talk is helpful for anyone, especially stressed-out students. After 14 minutes you’ll learn why and how to be better at stress.