Ideas worth spreading

The routines, rituals and boundaries we need in stressful times

1,589,642 views |

Esther Perel |

TED Salon: DWEN

• March 2021

How do you effectively regulate stress? Therapist Esther Perel discusses the importance of creating routines, rituals and boundaries to deal with pandemic-related loss and uncertainty -- both at home and at work -- and offers some practical tools and techniques to help you regain your sense of self. (This conversation, hosted by TED's Helen Walters, was recorded February 2021.)

How do you effectively regulate stress? Therapist Esther Perel discusses the importance of creating routines, rituals and boundaries to deal with pandemic-related loss and uncertainty -- both at home and at work -- and offers some practical tools and techniques to help you regain your sense of self. (This conversation, hosted by TED's Helen Walters, was recorded February 2021.)

This talk was presented at a TED Salon event given in partnership with DWEN. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TED Salons.

Learn more about relational dynamics at work by listening to Esther Perel's podcast How's Work?

About the speakers

Esther Perel

Therapist, speaker, consultant

See speaker profile

Through her podcasts "Where Should We Begin?" and "How's Work?," psychotherapist Esther Perel is changing the conversation on the way we communicate, connect and conflict in our relationships -- at home and at work.

Helen Walters

Head of curation at TED

See speaker profile

Helen Walters is the head of curation at TED, where she has the privilege of overseeing the work of an absurdly talented group of specialist curators and deep thinkers to bring the very sharpest minds and ideas to the TED stage.

Jack Saul | Routledge, 2013 | Book

Collective Trauma, Collective Healing: Promoting Community Resilience in the Aftermath of Disaster

Jack Saul studied and wrote about collective trauma long before we experienced it globally through the shared stress of the pandemic. Written originally for clinicians, today Saul's book serves as a definitive guide for anyone seeking a better understanding of the impact of collective trauma and a framework for recovery.

Weill Institute for Neurosciences, UCSF | Explore

"Resources to Support Your Mental Health During the COVID-19 Outbreak and Other Crises"

Developed to support our broader community as we navigate the myriad challenges of the pandemic, UCSF's mental health resources site offers tools, tips and practical resources for all.

Gianpiero Petriglieri, Sally Maitlis | Harvard Business Review, 2019 | Article

"When a Colleague Is Grieving"

Grief is difficult in the most normal of times. When it enters the workplace, we often lack the experience and vocabulary to navigate the murky waters. In this Harvard Business Review article, Gianpiero Petriglieri and Sally Maitlis offer sound advice on how to offer the right type of support.

Viktor Frankl | Beacon Press, 2006 | Book

Man's Search for Meaning

In this book, Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl wrote, "Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances." His words carry wisdom and insight that help frame and reframe difficult times.

Priya Parker | Riverhead Books, 2020 | Book

The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters

The quality of our relationships determines the quality of our lives. Our connections with others serve as a critical buffer in stressful times. Priya Parker's book on the art of gathering is a must-read for those desiring to reconnect and become closer with friends and loved ones after months spent physically apart.

About TED Salon

TED Salons welcome an intimate audience for an afternoon or evening of highly-curated TED Talks revolving around a globally relevant theme. A condensed version of a TED flagship conference, they are distinct in their brevity, opportunities for conversation, and heightened interaction between the speaker and audience.

Read more about TED Salons

This talk was presented at a TED Salon event given in partnership with DWEN. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TED Salons.

Learn more about relational dynamics at work by listening to Esther Perel's podcast How's Work?