Do you ever catch yourself mindlessly scrolling through TikTok? Although social media has become an integral part of our lives, we still find ourselves spending too much time on it.
Excessive social media use can pose negative effects on mental health. As Christine Stabler, a physician from Penn Medicine says, “Social media use has been linked to depression, anxiety and loneliness.” Mindful media consumption is key to reducing these numbers of depression and anxiety. Although TikTok, Instagram and Twitter are great, there are additional platforms we can focus our attention to that will benefit our mental health.
So what’s the solution, you may ask? Say hello to TED Talks – short videos explaining valuable ideas and information. TED Talks offer a wide range of engaging and interesting videos on self-improvement. These videos can open our eyes to new ways of thinking and introduce helpful habits that we can adopt into our everyday lives.
To help you get started, VALLEY has curated a list of some of the most impactful self-improvement talks:
- “The Power of Vulnerability by Brené Brown
- “Why We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie:
- “The Psychology of Time by Philip Zimbardo
- “The Art of Asking” by Amanda Palmer
- “Your Elusive Creative Genius” by Elizabeth Gilbert
Here are some ways to incorporate TED Talks into your daily routine:
Designate time
If you’re walking to class and need something to listen to, consider listening to a TED Talk. You could even watch or listen to a TED Talk while you’re on the treadmill at the gym. It doesn’t matter where, but being consistent about when you want to watch them will help you get it done. You might even learn something new about yourself and feel rewarded after!
Include a friend
Watching TED Talks with a friend can be fun and rewarding. Another option is to watch them separately throughout the week, and talk to your TED Talk-buddy about anything new you learned that surprised you, or any videos that you really enjoyed.
Create a list
Similar to making a Spotift playlist, consider writing a list of a few TED Talks you want to watch in the next few weeks based on your interests. In fact, TED provides some pre-made playlists on their website. You can also search for keywords like activism, beauty, fashion, media, or any other interests you may have, and a list of related TED Talks will come right up.
We understand how challenging it can be to change old habits, which is why VALLEY suggests cutting a few minutes of TikTok use and watching 1-2 TED Talks per week. Start the new year off by investing in yourself and exploring new approaches to media through TED Talks.
Tweet @VALLEYMag with your favorite TED Talks recommendations!
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