Is the secret to a happier, less stressful, more connected life actually play? A lot of the research is telling us so! As we get older sometimes we lose a bit of our joy, awe and wonder, and the time we have for our friendships becomes more restricted by work, obligations, distance, commitment and seriousness. In today's episode, let's talk about why the solution to that may be to bring back adult playdates, including:

• The psychology behind why play is important
• The loneliness epidemic
• Why our sense of connection has become disrupted
• Our 8 play personalities
• The power of parallel play
• Microhabits for creating playfulness and fun, and so much more!

Listen now! And don't forget to schedule your playdate!!

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

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For business enquiries: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our self doubts are what is keeping us in our own way. It is the foundation for our inner critic to tell us: you're not good enough, you're not talented enough, intelligent beautiful, hardworking to have the life and success you want. When we let our self doubts take control, it often means that we end up self handicapping or sabotaging before we get to the start line. In today's episode we are going to talk about the psychology of self doubt and how to silence those false beliefs, including:

• The origin of false beliefs in childhood experiences
• The impact of bullying on adult identity
• Overcoming failure and setbacks
• Imposter syndrome + self sabotage
• The power of a persona + the batman effect
• Doubting your own doubts
• Asking 'why not you?', and so much more

Listen now!

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

For business enquires: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the podcast we are talking about toxic positivity and the problem with always being positive and putting a fluffy, warm, positive spin on things. Often our unrealistic optimism comes from a good place and our desire to be happy all the time but any person knows that isn't always possible. We break down:

• The reason we gravitate towards toxic positivity
• What toxic positivity looks like
• The impact of wellness and self help content
• The consequences for our mental health
• The consequences for our emotional intelligence
• Why people who accept negative emotions are ACTUALLY happier
• How to practice emotional acceptance and healthy positivity

All of that and so much more, listen now!

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all know what red flags are, they tend to be universal at any age, but there are some redflags that are specific to our 20s, certain features of a relationship during this decade to look out for even if they don't look concerning at first. On today's episode we talk about the five biggest red flags for relationships in our 20s, including:

1. Relationships that stop you from having experiences
2. Relationships that cause emotional chaos
3. Relationships that don't celebrate or encourage you
4. All or nothing relationships
5. Fatal attractor relationships

We also explore the psychology and of course the research behind why these can be so damaging to help us find more sustainable and healthy love during this decade. 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.

The period after graduation can be really difficult, filled with emotions like grief, anxiety, worry about the future, loneliness and nostalgia as we leave the structure and comfort of college and university for the big, confusing real world. In today's episode we break down the psychology of the post-graduation blues, including:

• What defines this experience
• How long does it last?
• The loss of friends as well as security and stability
• What triggers our unease
• How we can embrace the fear and uncertainty
• Setting realistic goals for our first year post graduation

This and so much more, all with some amazing advice and wisdom from our guest, the therapist Liz Kelly, author of the book 'This Book Is Cheaper Than Therapy'. Listen now!

Buy Liz book here: https://www.amazon.com.au/This-Book-Cheaper-Than-Therapy/dp/1962305007

Follow Jemma here: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast here: @thatpsychologypodcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Very few of us ever receive an education on coping. We are taught bad things happen, we are taught pointless math equations, we are taught to grin and bear it, but not effective psychological ways of integrating stressful, painful, frustrating experiences. In this episode, we break down the psychology of coping mechanisms, including:

• Problem focused vs. emotion focused coping
• Maladaptive vs. adaptive coping
• Our most common defence mechanisms
• How to stop numbing ourselves to our experiences
• How to consciously deal with hard things in life
• Our coping statements
• Freud, Carl Jung and many more

Listen now for a comprehensive deep dive into coping in your 20s and beyond.

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

For business enquiries: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Conversations seem like they should be the easiest thing in the world, but we all know that sometimes that is not the case! Mental distractions, running out of things to talk about, feeling a bit off, all some of the roadblocks we face. In today's episode we break down FIVE tips to have better conversations:

1. The 2:1 question ratio
2. The fast friends protocol
3. Story topping and bright siding
4. The 5 minute urge
5. The liking gap

Listen now for more so we can all be having better conversations in whatever area of life!

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Love bombing has been a hot topic as of recent, but what does it ACTUALLY mean or entail? In today's episode we are breaking down all of the psychology of love bombing, including:

• The cultish origin of love bombing
• The three stages of love bombing
• Why people love bomb?
• The interaction between narcissism and love bombing
• Intensity addiction and love bombing
• The five questions for determining: is it love or lovebombing?

We also dive into why it can be so easy to get swept up by these individuals and behaviours, how to know it when you see it and the strength it takes to walk away.

Listen now!

For online help: https://whiteribbon.org.au/helplines/

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

For business enquiries: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.