5 Inspiring Ted Talks To Keep You Motivated
Exams are fast approaching and both students and parents will realise that time is right for pupils to set up and stick to a strict revision timetable.
For those gearing up for GCSE and A-Level examinations the approach of the exam season can be daunting. Students may feel overwhelmed with how much they need to learn, and often it is hard to know where to start.
The exam period is a hugely significant time and one that can have a massive impact on a young person’s future. Getting the grades you desire and deserve can change the course of your life. They can ensure you are accepted into your first choice of university or college, or help secure that job you had always dreamt of.
There are plenty of ways to ensure students use this time effectively. Setting up a useful and manageable revision timetable is a start, and organising group study sessions with friends can also be productive. Hiring a private tutor to help with subjects or topics that are presenting more of a challenge, or simply to prepare thoroughly for the exams overall is another useful way of effectively studying and feeling confident and ready come exam time.
Of course, sometimes it is simply difficult to get motivated! With this in mind, we have put together a list of creative, insightful and inspirational TED talks that are fantastic to listen to if you lack a little ‘get up and go.’
These five talks are well worth watching, not only teaching valuable life lessons but also telling us all that when the going gets tough, we simply need to keep on going.
Everyone can achieve their goals if they put their minds to it, and this applies to exam grades too. So next time you are feeling a little lacklustre why not watch one of these fascinating talks to refocus and inspire yourself?
Angela Lee Duckworth: The Key to Success? Grit
This brilliant talk is perfect if you are feeling a little apathetic. Here Duckworth explains that the research she has conducted confirms it is in fact hard work, passion and determination that are far more significant ingredients for success, more so than natural intelligence, or being able to grasp concepts and ideas quickly.
Conclusively, it doesn’t matter if you are brainy or not, if you are willing to work and persevere, you can do whatever you want to do, achieve whatever you want to achieve and be whoever you want to be.
Shukla Bose: Teaching one child at a time
If you ever want to feel seriously lucky then watching this inspirational and powerful speech by Shukla Bose is the right place to go.
Shukla Bose’s Parikrma Humanity Foundation reaches Indian children who live in some of the most poverty-stricken areas in the country and provides them with the educational opportunities that every child should have.
The seemingly impossible task of meeting the needs of 200 million children does not shake Bose’s determined attitude, refusing to participate in the ‘numbers game.’ Her strategy, one that insists individual attention and care is paid to each and every child, making sure they are educated right through until college, is admirable.
It is often easy to forget that so many children and young people have no access to education at all, and because of this, their prospects are very limited.
So next time you feel a bout of revision-related blues coming on, perhaps watch this video and remember that having an excellent education is something to be very thankful for.
Andy Puddicombe: All it Takes Is 10 Mindful Minutes
When revising, it is important to take regular breaks. Whether you want to get outside and get some fresh air, grab a snack or simply relax in front of the TV, how you spend your break time is up to you.
However, it might be worth considering looking into taking a little time of out your hectic day to practice Mindfulness. In this short video we learn that our mind is out most ‘valuable and precious resource’and it sometimes deserves a rest!
Truly emptying your mind of the day-to-day stresses and worries, particularly if feeling the pressure in the lead up to exams can help you clear your head, relax, and feel far less distracted when you go back to studying.
Adora Svitak: What adults can learn from kids
Now is a very good time to check in with your child-like self and think about what you hoped for when you were younger.
It is all too easy when growing up to let go of our “childish”thinking. However, Svitak tells us that it is important to dream big, to be positive about our future and never to let go of our dreams.
This talk will help you to put things in perspective, and feel assured that you have a great future ahead of you. Perhaps most importantly, it leaves you certain that you have the potential to realise your creative aspirations and career goals, providing you remain confident, and brave enough to stick to them.
Philip Zimbardo prescribes a healthy take on time
Renowned psychologist Philip Zimbardo’s lecture on time is definitely one to watch.
As the exams approach many students may be thinking about time, whether that’s time that has already passed or the future times ahead. His advice helps us to perceive the past, present, and future in a way that can help to put things in perspective, and live healthier and more productive lives.
We can all use a little motivation from time to time, particularly in the run-up to exams.
Staying focused, working hard, and asking for help when you need it be it from your teachers, parents or tutor will give you the best chance to succeed.
These inspirational TED talks are the perfect way to take a step back from your studies, and take ten minutes to feel empowered, excited and ready to take on the world!
