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How Play Boosts Your Creativity and Resilience | Katina Bajaj | TED

When was the last time you just … played? Creative health scientist Katina Bajaj thinks adults are in a “play deprivation crisis,” where we’ve replaced our fun-loving human nature with optimization and efficiency. She makes the case that play isn’t a reward for productivity but rather a survival skill — and invites you to rediscover…

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When was the last time you just … played? Creative health scientist Katina Bajaj thinks adults are in a “play deprivation crisis,” where we’ve replaced our fun-loving human nature with optimization and efficiency. She makes the case that play isn’t a reward for productivity but rather a survival skill — and invites you to rediscover the freedom of not knowing where something will end up. (Recorded at Play@TED on May 14, 2026)

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#TED #TEDTalks #Creativity

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11 Comments

11 Comments

  1. @ExistentialWolf

    August 14, 2026 at 11:30 am

    That sounds like mimicry. Start with a ball you have a long road. Bk bk bk bkAAAAAAH _!_

    Reply

  2. @michaelaskarbova223

    August 14, 2026 at 12:27 pm

    For a second I thought this was Tiler Peck from NYCB 🩰 🤭

    Reply

  3. @devi6501

    August 14, 2026 at 12:52 pm

    Being in a sense of Playfulness is very important to psychospiritual health. Look at Yoda. The older & wiser he grew, the more light-hearted & playful – he was.

    Reply

  4. @filmirangers

    August 14, 2026 at 2:11 pm

    Happy independence day 🇮🇳🇮🇳

    Reply

  5. @fogrunr5075

    August 14, 2026 at 2:16 pm

    Everyday, early in the morning while the bugs are singing and the birds are still sleeping, that is when my first play is. Always starting my morning with play guarantees my creativity. It carries into my work, looking forward to electrical and electronics problems that I can solve. And it brings me relaxation after work in the evening. One goal of my play is my weekend and seasonal adventures.
    Compassionate hearts beat stronger❤
    Compassionate minds are wiser❤
    Compassion always rises❤

    Reply

    • @OHM-786-one

      August 14, 2026 at 5:43 pm

      @fogrunr5075 👍🏽🥰

      Reply

  6. @alexbajcz7125

    August 14, 2026 at 7:26 pm

    I’m reminded of the Martha Stewart quote which is basically something like “motivation comes after you start, not before it.” Much of play’s benefits and joy comes from the act of doing it, not of planning to do it. You just gotta start!

    Reply

  7. @harrypearle9781

    August 14, 2026 at 7:57 pm

    PLAY in POLITICS NEEDED
    We have turned Politics into War Games !
    ==================================
    The STRONG Museum of Play is in Rochester NY, where I live (Play can make us STRONG)

    Reply

  8. @rajasaria3923

    August 14, 2026 at 8:58 pm

    Took Clara Hartley’s anxiety quiz while I was waiting for my food and thought it would just be something quick to pass the time. Now I’m reading about how I respond to stress and why I avoid certain situations. That escalated a lot faster than expected.

    Reply

  9. @Enkeria

    August 14, 2026 at 9:11 pm

    Any gamers here? I mean..

    Reply

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Your watch might be your new doctor’s assistant #TEDTalks

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Genome researcher Michael Snyder believes health wearables, such as smart watches and glucose monitors, can transform medicine, shifting from reactive to predictive. (In fact, he’s such a big fan of these devices that he wears eight of them every single day.) From spotting an illness days before symptoms appear to helping prevent the onset of diabetes, learn why the future of health care may be on your wrist.

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How I Turn Joy into Art | Yinka Ilori | TED

Artist Yinka Ilori believes that joy is inherited — handed down through the colors, rituals and gatherings of the people who raised you. In this vibrant tour of his work, he draws on what people say brings them joy and reveals the one surprising pattern that runs through almost every response. (Recorded at TED2026 on…

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Artist Yinka Ilori believes that joy is inherited — handed down through the colors, rituals and gatherings of the people who raised you. In this vibrant tour of his work, he draws on what people say brings them joy and reveals the one surprising pattern that runs through almost every response. (Recorded at TED2026 on April 17, 2026)

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The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less) — plus originals, podcasts and exclusive content. Look for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design as well as science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit for our entire library, transcripts, translations and personalized recommendations.

Watch more:

TED videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with the TED Talks Usage Policy: . For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), submit a request at

#TED #TEDTalks #Art

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People & Blogs

Let this be your last Short for the day #TEDTalk

Do you sometimes have your most creative ideas while folding laundry, washing dishes or doing nothing in particular? It’s because when your body goes on autopilot, your brain gets busy forming new neural connections that connect ideas and solve problems. Learn to love being bored as Manoush Zomorodi explains the connection between spacing out and…

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Do you sometimes have your most creative ideas while folding laundry, washing dishes or doing nothing in particular? It’s because when your body goes on autopilot, your brain gets busy forming new neural connections that connect ideas and solve problems. Learn to love being bored as Manoush Zomorodi explains the connection between spacing out and creativity.

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