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Play is what happens when you stop trying to optimize everything #TEDTalks

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.

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15 Comments

15 Comments

  1. @NystulDM

    September 20, 2026 at 3:37 pm

    many of us know.
    it is why my life is devoted to taking people on adventures
    @katina bejaj I would love to show you another way. to bring adventure and magic into your life

  2. @chasmenear7130

    September 20, 2026 at 4:55 pm

    This is the most amazing wisdom – definitely the best TED I’ve seen in quite some time…and that’s saying quite a bit!

  3. @CornCans

    September 20, 2026 at 5:06 pm

    I expected this to be more playful.

  4. @nokoolaid

    September 20, 2026 at 5:41 pm

    The American Business Model ruins everything

    • @riku6146

      September 21, 2026 at 6:41 am

      It is not even the real capitalism, even though it is a form of capitalism.

      Go learn from Prof. Sam Vaknin

    • @nokoolaid

      September 21, 2026 at 9:49 am

      @riku6146 I never commented on the type of system it is. It’s crony capitalism/corporatism/consumerism. It’s about profit/productivity/efficiency that benefits the few. The safety valve for the elites is that the hoi polloi get just enough credit so they don’t complain, the debt of which grows every year.

  5. @westrim

    September 21, 2026 at 12:20 am

    This woman hasn’t a spent a year of life without an income/parental income under 100K, has she?

    • @begirbigger7843

      September 22, 2026 at 3:26 am

      @westrim I came to work singing and dancing to my 7 dollars a day job. I ate steamed rice with fried soy bean everyday for months. Now my life is a lot better, but I don’t feel like my life was miserable back then.

  6. @riku6146

    September 21, 2026 at 6:40 am

    Because capitalism and capitalists wanted bigger numbers with 0 risk taking, not even playful risk taking in most cases

  7. @parthchauhan8721

    September 21, 2026 at 2:18 pm

    Guest YT Channel FT.@JayShettyPodcast.
    FT.@melrobbins

  8. @parthchauhan8721

    September 21, 2026 at 2:19 pm

    Dr. Ishan Shivanand

    Dr. Ishan Shivanand is an academic, philanthropist, founder of Compassion Unites, and one of the leading voices shaping the global response to the mental health crisis.

    Peer-reviewed research validates his mental health protocols, now adopted at Google and Fortune 500 companies.

    Shivanand advises global governments and CEOs. An award-winning author, his first book, The Practice of Immortality, is a USA Today national bestseller.

  9. @Michael.ZuleykaRivera

    September 22, 2026 at 3:46 pm

    I have one question… What was the point of this?

    Very intelligent individuals talking on TED…. mmmmmhhhhmmmnn

  10. @gulllars4620

    September 22, 2026 at 6:50 pm

    I disagree. I’m an adult nerd that’s a lifelong gamer and asipring polyglot and polymath working in IT doing creative problem solving. I play leveraging my curiosity. I’m distilling the same into my kids and their kindergarten prioritize gently supervised “free play” with just a bit structured learning, instead guiding with themes and inspiration.

    Don’t kill play as a process and intuitive value signal through curiosity. But efficiency and effectiveness are also important things for society and companies, and it can come from directed play and playful exploration (some of your time)

  11. @darinking9479

    September 23, 2026 at 5:39 pm

    We must because we must is a terrible thesis and closing statement.

  12. @simplyminded3529

    September 23, 2026 at 6:29 pm

    Very true

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People & Blogs

Here’s your reminder that you are enough — and you always will be #WorldMentalHealthDay

On paper, Blake Mycoskie is a glowing success story: he founded TOMS Shoes, building a global brand that has given away more than 100 million pairs of shoes to children in need. Yet despite his success, his struggle with depression nearly cost him his life. In this personal talk, he explores the all-too-common shame that…

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On paper, Blake Mycoskie is a glowing success story: he founded TOMS Shoes, building a global brand that has given away more than 100 million pairs of shoes to children in need. Yet despite his success, his struggle with depression nearly cost him his life. In this personal talk, he explores the all-too-common shame that keeps people suffering in silence — and shares his new mission to spread the simple yet powerful message that each of us is inherently enough. (Note: This talk includes discussion of suicide and depression.) (Recorded at TED2026 on April 17, 2026)

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People & Blogs

The Three Words That Saved My Life | Blake Mycoskie | TED

On paper, Blake Mycoskie is a glowing success story: he founded TOMS Shoes, building a global brand that has given away more than 100 million pairs of shoes to children in need. Yet despite his success, his struggle with depression nearly cost him his life. In this personal talk, he explores the all-too-common shame that…

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On paper, Blake Mycoskie is a glowing success story: he founded TOMS Shoes, building a global brand that has given away more than 100 million pairs of shoes to children in need. Yet despite his success, his struggle with depression nearly cost him his life. In this personal talk, he explores the all-too-common shame that keeps people suffering in silence — and shares his new mission to spread the simple yet powerful message that each of us is inherently enough. (Note: This talk includes discussion of suicide and depression.) (Recorded at TED2026 on April 17, 2026)

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These are the inherent human skills that machines can’t replace #TEDTalks

As AI reshapes work, school and love, what part of being human can’t a machine take over? In a wide-ranging conversation, psychotherapist Esther Perel and TED’s vision steward Sal Khan provide their unique takes on the answer. From personalized learning and AI companions to “emotional capitalism” and the rituals we create to live with uncertainty,…

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As AI reshapes work, school and love, what part of being human can’t a machine take over? In a wide-ranging conversation, psychotherapist Esther Perel and TED’s vision steward Sal Khan provide their unique takes on the answer. From personalized learning and AI companions to “emotional capitalism” and the rituals we create to live with uncertainty, the two explore if we’re getting better at living or just getting better at optimizing. (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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