Got 20 minutes? Then you have time for a TED talk. If you haven't heard of TED (possibly you live under a rock...just kidding...kind of) you should make a point to watch a TED talk or two in the future. Some of them are quite fascinating, but all are insightful.

TED began in 1984 as a conference where ideas about Technology, Entertainment and Design converged. Today it's a nonprofit dedicated to spreading ideas about all topics around the world, with a goal of sparking conversation and helping people gain a deeper understanding of the world. TED's website says "We believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and, ultimately, the world."

A TED talk is a short, powerful talk that is less than 20 minutes. Being selected to give a TED talk is usually seen as quite the achievement. If you've never seen one, TED suggests this list of 11 classics that cover a range of topics and introduce some beloved and popular speakers.

To further point you in the right direction of some of the better TED talks out there, read These Are the 10 Best TED Talks of the Year, According to the Guy Who Runs TED. Some of the topics include: artificial intelligence, astronomy and social justice.

Listening to these TED talks may change how you think. Most importantly, they challenge your brain with new information, which is so important, especially as we age. We should strive to continually learn throughout our lives and TED talks are an easy way to get your learning on!

Our staff also hand picked some inspiring TED talks specifically for baby boomers to get you started:

One of our favorite TED talks is by author Chip Conley, about how age diversity makes companies stronger and why different generations should mentor each other at work. Watch "What baby boomers can learn from millennials at work — and vice versa." here.

Jane Fonda also delivered a phenomenal Ted talk called, "Life's Third Act". She talks about the increased life expectancy of older generations, and why these years shouldn't be just a footnote. Watch her discuss how we can re-imagine this new phase of our lives here.

And finally, Harvard psychologist Dan Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness (and a baby boomer), challenges the idea that we’ll be miserable if we don’t get what we want. Watch Dan's inspiring Ted talk about "psychological immune system" here.

Here are 5 more Ted talks that we think are worth your time too: 

1. How to Live to be 100+
2. Saving for tomorrow, tomorrow
3. How to Live Passionately- No Matter your Age
4. Less Stuff, More Happiness
5. How I'm Preparing to Get Alzheimer's

Image: Juliana Rotich on Flickr [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]