The Psychology of your 20s

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Latest Episodes:

236. How to make hard decisions Oct 04, 2024

Show notes

At some stage in our 20s we'll have to make a life changing decision where the right choice is not at all clear: stay or leave my job, the country, my relationships? We can become paralysed in that moment, unable to take a step forward, not realising that doing nothing is, in itself, a decision. In today's episode we break down:

Why we struggle to make hard decisions
The paradox of choice
Indecisiveness and a lack of self trust
The 'Wisest Self' thought exercise
The 10/10/10 rule for making hard decisions
The role of regret and fear

Listen now if you're struggling with some hard choices in your 20s!

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

235. The psychology of 'right person, wrong time' Sep 30, 2024

Show notes

The right person at the wrong time might be one of the saddest kinds of love stories we come across. This person may be perfect for us, our dream partner, but factors like distance, life, obligations, emotional readiness get in the way and mean that we can't be together. Despite knowing we can't be together, we can't let go and pine after this person, wondering what we could have done differently. Or is right person, wrong time, actually just a myth? Is there ever such a thing as the 'wrong time' for our soulmate? In this episode we discuss:

The obstacles that keep people apart
The psychology of 'right person, wrong time'
The cognitive biases that keep us attached to someone
Why we feel more bonded with some people over others
Why 'right person, wrong time' may be a myth
How to get over this person you can't stop thinking about

Listen now!

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

234. I had a mental breakdown Sep 27, 2024

Show notes

Let's talk about what's been going on with my mental health recently and what's changed. This is a rather vulnerable episode so please check in with yourself before listening.

Lifeline (AUS): 13 11 14

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (US): 988

Samaritans (UK): 116 123

Mental health resources (worldwide): https://www.helpguide.org/find-help

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

233. Surviving a toxic workplace Sep 24, 2024

Show notes

Work makes up a large component of our lives. It's estimated that 1/3 of our waking lives will be spent working, so when that environment is toxic or harmful, it takes it's toll. Especially in our 20s, a toxic workplace can be quite a negative, formative experience and leave us with poor confidence, imposter syndrome and chronic burnout. In today's episode we discuss the psychological impact of bad jobs, including:

The burnout cycle
Psychological enmeshment with a workplace
Long term impact on self esteem and future employment
Tips for surviving a toxic workplace
Tips on how to thrive afterwards, despite the trauma

I also share my own lived experience with a toxic workplace and what I wish I'd known before. Listen now!

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

232. Why do we hate criticism? Sep 20, 2024

Show notes

When someone criticises us we naturally feel on edge and defensive. This is because criticism threatens our ego and our sense of self and so we have a very emotional reaction. But that doesn't have to be the case. In today's episode, we break down:

What makes us so sensitive to criticism
Hypercritical parenting and an aversion to feedback
Rejection sensitivity and criticism
The differences between criticism and feedback
How to properly approach criticism
When the criticism isn't worth your time

All of that and more as we unpack the psychology behind criticism. Listen now!

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

231. 5 ways to reinvent yourself in your 20s Sep 17, 2024

Show notes

If nothing else, our 20s are a time for reinvention and transformation. We become clearer and clearer about the version of us we want to be, and hopefully more confident around expressing our authentic elves, but sometimes this is interrupted by periods of boredom, stagnation, isolation and discomfort. These are all signs that something in our lives needs to change, and it needs to change now. In today's episode we break down five ways to reinvent yourself during your 20s, including:

Theory of opposites
Visualisation and choosing the 'theme' for your next era
The timeline for change
The power of risk + microrisks
Changing 'what if' thinking into 'what else' or 'so what?' + more

Listen now when you're ready for transformation.

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

230. The psychology of flirting Sep 12, 2024

Show notes

Flirting! Usually thought of as something used to express romantic or physical interest may actually be the secret to unlocking more connections than you can ever imagine: platonic and romantic. In today's episode we break down the psychology of flirting, including how to gain confidence in your flirting ability, the flirt languages or styles, why flirting is all about connection and low expectations and, of course, how to bring back flirting into a long term relationship.

We are joined by the Flirt Coach, Benjamin Camras, to be the expert on this episode. Benjamin has been a flirt coach for thousands, runs his own podcast on flirting, called Flirtations, and gives us his best tips and tricks for embracing the power of the 'flirt'. Listen now!

Follow Benjamin here: @benjamincamras

Listen to Flirtations here: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ti023cM762SVaQOZrdWlv?si=4ab574c92b5f4339

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

229. 4 ways to make your anxiety work for you Sep 10, 2024

Show notes

We all get anxious at times, but what we forget in those moments is that anxiety is just there to protect us, it's trying to do its job, and the more we lean in and play along, the more we start to feel in control again. In today's episode, we break down the four ways I've made my anxiety work for me, including:

Turning anxiety into excitement
The certainities list method
The personification method
Channeling anxious energy into creative energy + more

If you're someone who struggles with ongoing anxiety, this episode will hopefully provide you with a new perspective, or at least a refresher on what we do know about the way anxiety effects us. Listen now!

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

For business enquiries: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

228. The psychology of limerence Sep 06, 2024

Show notes

Limerance - the state of having undeniable feelings for someone who does not feel the same way - feels so much like love but can be so confusing, because deep down we know this person is probably not the one. Despite that we find it impossible to move on, impossible to disconnect or detach despite our best efforts because our affections for this person feel so permanently wired into our brain. Today we talk about why that may be, including:

The first ever studies into limerance
The 4 stages of limerance
The addictive explanation for limerance
Limerance, attachment style, fantasy and ADHD
What the long term emotional impacts of limerance are
How to recover + 4 tips for moving on

Listen now!

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

For business enquiries: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

227. The power of staying present Sep 03, 2024

Show notes

Our attention is constantly being pulled in every direction: we're thinking about the past, overthinking the future, getting notifications from our phones, information from our environment. When was the last time you truly slowed down and enjoyed the present? When was the last time you savoured the moment like you do a nice meal, or a sleep in? Today we are discussing the power of mindfulness, and the power of staying present, including: