The Psychology of your 20s

What might be seen as a ‘boring’ life is often just a life that wouldn’t be as popular on Instagram. In a world that glamorises chaos, spontaneity and constant stimulation, we need to create lives that truly nourish us, provide safety, and align with who we really are. In this episode, we explore the psychology behind why so many of us begin craving calm as we get older, why that can feel oddly threatening, and why slowing down may be one of the best things we can do for our brains.
We explore:
• Why many of us start craving a more manageable, peaceful life
• Why this can create fear, guilt, or cognitive dissonance in our 20s
• The pressure from social media to make youth look chaotic and exciting
• The role of FOMO in feeling disconnected from our real preferences
• Why our brains crave novelty
• What a ‘boring’ life is actually made of: boundaries, routine, presence, and self-trust
Watch on Netflix: HERE
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
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For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com
Our favourite sources:
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/development-and-psychopathology/article/abs/differential-changes-in-impulsivity-and-sensation-seeking-and-the-escalation-of-substance-use-from-adolescence-to-early-adulthood/3542107D68176F9B55BC0A2DB212C701
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0747563213000800
https://www.nature.com/articles/nrn1052
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1250830
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we go for a job interview, it can feel as if our entire existence is being judged. It can come down to the feeling of someone else getting to call the shots on whether we are intellectually competent at best, or personally desirable at worst. In this episode, we’ll explore why job interviews can feel so stressful, identify why positive first impressions are vital, and discuss some psychological hacks to help us nail them.
We explore:
• How job interviews trigger our need for social approval
• The Yerkes-Dodson Law, or how excessive pressure can make us perform worse
• Why we can’t trust our judgement about how an interview went
• Why being likeable makes it more likely you’ll get hired
• How easy psychological tricks can make us feel more confident
Our favourite sources:
https://www.catharticspacecounseling.com/blog/how-to-handle-uncertainty-without-losing-your-mindwww.researchgate.net/publication/313878823_The_importance_of_first_impressions_in_a_job_interview
https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/beyond-stress-and-burnout/202206/the-effects-of-stress-when-interviewing
Watch on Netflix: HERE
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Living with a chronic illness in your 20s can feel like carrying an invisible weight that nobody else can see. Beyond the hospital appointments, surgeries, medications and diagnoses, there is a hidden psychological burden: the anxiety, grief, uncertainty, identity struggles and resilience required to keep moving forward when your body feels beyond your control.
In this week's episode, I sit down with content creator, advocate and broadcaster Nikki Lilly to discuss what it's really like growing up with a rare medical condition, navigating facial differences, online bullying, and building a meaningful life despite constant uncertainty.
We discuss:
The hidden psychological impact of chronic illness
Medical trauma, PTSD and the long road to healing
How chronic illness affects your relationship with your body
Online bullying, discrimination and appearance-based judgment
Plus her time at the Oscars and her vision for her future
Happy listening!
Watch on Netflix: HERE
Listen to Live A Little: HERE
Follow Lilly on Instagram: @nikkililly
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is one of the most famous theories in psychology. We've all seen the pyramid. We've all been told that before we can become our best selves, we need to climb through five levels of human needs, from food and safety all the way to self-actualisation. But what if that's not actually what Maslow believed?
In this bonus episode, as part of our series myth-busting psychology, we're uncovering the surprising truth behind one of psychology's most iconic ideas, including:
Why Maslow never actually drew a pyramid
The forgotten sixth level of the hierarchy
The Indigenous Blackfoot origins of the theory
Whether self-actualisation is really the highest human goal
Why the hierarchy isn't as rigid as we've been taught
What modern psychology says about the evidence behind Maslow's ideas
Happy listening!
Watch on Netflix: HERE
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most of us will spend the majority of our adult lives working. So why does the traditional 9–5 leave so many people feeling exhausted, trapped, unfulfilled, or quietly wondering: is this really it?
In this episode, we explore the psychology behind why the 9–5 can feel so unnatural for some people, why work often becomes the centre of our identity, and what to do when the life you've been told should make you happy simply doesn't.
This includes:
Why the 9–5 often feels so draining
The psychology of role engulfment and losing yourself to work
The personality traits that predict whether you'll enjoy traditional employment
The importance of hobbies, purpose, novelty, and community
When it's time to consider a different path
Practical advice for anyone dreaming of working for themselves
Happy listening!
Watch on Netflix: HERE
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.