You know that feeling you get when things are just a little bit out of control? But you can’t quite put your finger on it? Like, you know you need to be more organized, and you know you want to get your life together, but you just aren’t sure what you need to do, or where to start?
I know that feeling all too well. In fact, I kinda get that feeling on a regular basis. Something changes, my flow gets interrupted and all of a sudden I find myself in a rut and not sure how to get out.
When it comes to getting your life organized, look no further than TED Talks. Seriously. I LOVE TED Talks. For real. There’s a TED Talk for everything, from the inspiring, to the informative, from the entertaining to the ones that pull on your heart strings.
Which is why when I need a little inspiration and motivation for getting my life organized, these are the TED Talks I listen to.
To save you sorting through thousands of TED Talks, I’ve created a ‘must watch’ TED Talks list all about getting your life organized.
Binge watch them now, save them for later, or pick out a few that speak to you. Whatever your stage in life, I’m sure you’ll find something on this list that resonates with you.
1 – From Clutter to Clarity | Kerry Thomas
Our need for ‘stuff’ has lead us to actually feeling overwhelmed. But clutter isn’t just the ‘stuff’ – it can be so much more than just the physical things. It can be digital, emotional, and so much more.
“Clutter is postponed decisions” – how much clutter do you have? And what does that clutter actually say about you?
Inspired to declutter? Here are 25 things you can throw out when decluttering.
2 – Smash Fear, Learn Anything | Tim Ferriss
You might be wondering what a TED Talk about overcoming fears has to do with getting your life organized…
Let me ask you… what fear in your life is holding you back from living the life you want?
While listening to this talk, think about what aspects of your life you want to change to be a certain way, what fears are stopping you from having this in your life, and what can you do to overcome those fears?
3 – How To Gain Control Of Your Free Time | Laura Vanderkam
Are you always looking for little pockets of time in the day to do all the things you love? Maybe you’ve got it the wrong way around.
I’m a massive advocate for figuring out the things you want to do in your life, and building the rest of your day around that (especially when it comes to self care!).
If you only watch one TED Talk on this list, make it this one!
4 – Less Stuff, More Happiness | Graham Hill
How much stuff are you storing?
This is a truly fascinating talk about how to maximise a small amount of space, edit your life and create a life and living space that is truly designed around what you love.
When you watch this talk, think about how the things around you, your stuff, is holding you back from living the organized life you want.
5 – How To Change Your Behaviour For The Better | Dan Ariely
What friction do you have in the decisions you make in your life?
Removing friction from your decisions can help you make decisions faster, and hopefully, eliminate the need to make decisions at all in some cases (we make SO MANY decisions each day).
Understanding why and how you make decisions can help you to make decisions for the better, and to use your own motivation to help you live your best life.
When it comes to organizing our life, motivation and behaviours play a huge part. This is a super interesting TED Talk about just that.
6 – How To Stop Screwing Yourself Over | Mel Robbins
1/3 of Americans feel dissatisfied with their life right now. Are you one of them?
What is it you want in your life? Like, REALLY want. Mel talks all about getting what you want… and that it is incredibly simple.
How often have you used the ‘F’ word lately? And it’s not the ‘F’ word you think… it’s the word that helps you move from living a life of not achieving what you want, vs living a life where YOU are in control of your behaviours.
Seriously love the 5 second rule she talks about too! Such a great way to stop spending so much time in the state of inaction, and just get things done (life organization for the win!).
7 – Quit Social Media | Dr Cal Newport
How much time do you spend on social media? I know I spend way too much time. A quick ‘I’m just going to check Facebook’ turns into ‘where did the last 2 hours go?’
While I have to admit, I’m not going to quit social media anytime soon, this talk certainly makes me question if the excuses I give for my use of social media are actually justified, and question what ‘value’ it gives to my life. As well as how much more time I would have, and how much more organized I could be if I didn’t spend as much time on social media.
I agree wholeheartedly with Dr. Newport saying that social media brings with it an element of harm, they are designed to be addictive, and with a growth in online bullying it makes me nervous for the next (and current) generations growing up using social media.
8 – Inside The Mind Of A Master Procrastinator | Tim Urban
Hands up all the procrastinators out there? Yeah, me too. I’ve always been this way, for as long as I can remember.
I wrote all of my high school assignments like this, I write my blog posts like this, and I do everything last minute (just ask my husband, he agrees).
It’s not because I’m lazy, trust me, I’m not. It’s more that it’s literally how my brain works, and it’s good to know I’m not the only one (and neither are you!).
9 – Getting Stuck In The Negatives (And How To Get Unstuck) | Alison Ledgerwood
I’m so glad I’m not the only person who gets stuck on negatives – it’s such a natural thing to do, especially as a people pleaser. How many times have you experienced this yourself?
My husband and I were discussing the successes we had and how often we quickly adapt to our successes and chase the next one, but we hold on to negatives for so much longer.
You have to work to see the upside. This is such a great talk to shake up how you approach your day and reframe how you talk about things in your life. Focusing more on the good things than the negatives and making more of an effort to see the upside.
Chances are if you’re reading this, then you’re motivated to get your life organized. And if you’re anything like me, then sometimes you just need a gentle nudge in the right direction to figure out what you next best step is.
Hopefully you’ve found that next best step in these TED Talks and you’re feeling more excited and motivated about organizing your life than ever before!
If you need more TED Talk inspiration, you can watch the Most Life Changing TED Talks, the TED Talks about Minimalism to Spark Your Decluttering Desire and the TED Talks About Motivation.
