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How to Escape Your Obsession with Productivity | TED Intersections

Why are we so obsessed with productivity? Horticulturist Rebecca McMackin (who wants people to let their lawns grow wild) and author Catherine Price (who wrote a book about the power of fun) come together to discuss the relief of giving up control. From growing milkweed to taking up unproductive hobbies, they dig into the benefits…

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Why are we so obsessed with productivity? Horticulturist Rebecca McMackin (who wants people to let their lawns grow wild) and author Catherine Price (who wrote a book about the power of fun) come together to discuss the relief of giving up control. From growing milkweed to taking up unproductive hobbies, they dig into the benefits of rest and why doing something for its own sake shouldn’t need defending at all. (This conversation is part of “TED Intersections,” a series featuring thought-provoking conversations between experts navigating the ideas shaping our world.)

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#TED #TEDTalks #PersonalGrowth

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21 Comments

21 Comments

  1. @abectv

    September 22, 2026 at 2:14 pm

    Journalist

  2. @KhaalidMaxamed-z2f5l

    September 22, 2026 at 2:24 pm

    Guys like me😂

  3. @notsoaveragejoeAF

    September 22, 2026 at 2:34 pm

    Most woman like conversation I’ve ever heard in my life

  4. @SoloniainaBrudo

    September 22, 2026 at 3:02 pm

    If you’re exhausted from constantly trying to keep your thoughts under control, Anwen Reid’s anxiety quiz may give you a different way to look at what’s going on.

    • @newt5111

      September 23, 2026 at 1:11 pm

      ohhh my god dead internet theory. bot with 27 bot likes

    • @00rv-g1s

      September 24, 2026 at 11:17 am

      Well okay good done 👍 thanks

  5. @BritishRick

    September 22, 2026 at 3:05 pm

    I like overworking it kills the time, gives you a sense of meaning in a meaningless world. And I do not agree with these gurus. Just because you don’t like working, it does not mean I should as well.

    • @Cultivated.

      September 22, 2026 at 4:41 pm

      @BritishRick
      May one day you find peace and contentment

  6. @bholl6546

    September 22, 2026 at 7:29 pm

    “Let us cultivate our garden.”

    Candide

    • @maxinedowns8013

      September 22, 2026 at 9:08 pm

      Green meadows too, bursting with flowers. Much the, best part of, the best of all possible worlds.

  7. @maryamw-d7l

    September 23, 2026 at 12:23 am

    The idea of productivity in the west is very different than in other cultures. In some cultures resting is part of productivity, having fun with your family, talking to your neighbors, playing with your kids everything could be productive if done intentionally.

  8. @momo0421

    September 23, 2026 at 5:22 am

    Can I ask opposite question? How can I become productive and stop doing too much meaningless hobbies?😅

  9. @user-kq2tc5hy5g

    September 23, 2026 at 5:30 am

    TED: “you’re doing too much”
    also your boss: “you’re getting paid too much”

  10. @Ding0st0lemabeVy

    September 23, 2026 at 7:30 am

    My unproductive hobbies are smoking buges and playing video games 👌

  11. @00rv-g1s

    September 23, 2026 at 11:21 am

    Hi there nice to meet you guys,you awesome 💯 because share knowledge together to get better ideas yes that right now a generation people are not used talk each other because phone, laptop etc, share knowledge face to face is nice we can solve many problems in our world , it is best solution for human development, let talk about knowledge, knowledge is found anywhere book ,devices or something

  12. @caraslifeonthefarm

    September 23, 2026 at 3:56 pm

    My garden feels like a chore. I need to change my attitude. Each ear of corn is a bonus and a blessing.

  13. @eamonjun

    September 23, 2026 at 3:58 pm

    We can fully blame the elites for this for artificially making the world more expensive.

  14. @extremeencounter7458

    September 23, 2026 at 7:25 pm

    It’s because despite making a decent amount of money, we still don’t make enough

  15. @random_corp_apps

    September 23, 2026 at 8:08 pm

    Thank you Random Video Picker! I needed this!

  16. @fatimahpurwitasariharahap4551

    September 23, 2026 at 11:27 pm

    For me, listening to music while lying in bed and not thinking about anything is the best way to escape the crowded world

  17. @YUKO0709

    September 24, 2026 at 9:03 am

    日本人女性の心の闇で『鏡・鏡』と言う低次元人間の心の声(闇)が入っています。dark energyが増えて太陽光が消失していきます。日本人女性の地球由来の魂の女性はカルマの清算として暗い未来に進みます。

    The inner darkness of a Japanese woman contains the low-dimensional inner voice saying “mirror, mirror.” As dark energy increases, sunlight is fading away. Japanese women with Earth-origin souls are moving toward a dark future as a means of karma settlement.

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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 #Homelessness

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