431. Why a boring life is beautiful

431. Why a boring life is beautiful

Author: iHeartPodcasts June 22, 2026 Duration: 27:56

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

Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s

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.


Navigating your twenties can feel like a constant, bewildering experiment where you're both the scientist and the subject. The Psychology of your 20s, hosted by Jemma Sbeg, treats this unique decade with the thoughtful analysis it deserves. Released every Tuesday and Friday, each episode picks apart a specific thread of the modern twentysomething experience-whether it's the anxiety of mapping out a career, the complexities of dating apps, the strain on friendships, or the stress of managing money for the first time. Jemma grounds these universal themes in psychological research and science, offering clarity on why this period feels so tumultuous. The conversations move beyond simple advice, instead providing a framework for understanding the mental and emotional underpinnings of decisions big and small. This isn't a lecture; it's a companionable exploration of the growing pains that define adulthood's first chapter. Tuning into this podcast feels like gaining a new lens on your own life, one that transforms confusion into comprehension. It’s produced by iHeartPodcasts.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Psychology of your 20s
Podcast Episodes
436. The psychology of sibling rivalry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:53
In many ways, sibling rivalry is an integral part of growing up in a multiple-child household – the arguments, the jealousy, the competition. But as we explore in this episode, those sibling dynamics often don’t stop in…
435. The pain of outgrowing your old life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:43
There comes a point in all of our lives where we realise we've outgrown who we used to be. Sometimes it happens all at once, due to a breakup, a move, a loss, or a major life change. Other times (most of the time), it's…
433. I'm ready to leave London [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:26
Giving you all an update on my life and my future in London. Watch on Netflix: HERE Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyou…
432. How to rebuild your attention span [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:58
Many of us feel that our attention spans are nothing like they used to be. So many of us can recall a time when we would read books for hours with ease, concentrate for hours, focus on a movie without going on our phone.…
430. The psychology of job interviews [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:55
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 per…
429. The reality of chronic illness in your 20s ft. Nikki Lilly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:11
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 burde…
428. The truth about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:32
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…
427. What to do when a 9-5 doesn't fulfil you? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:31
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 ex…
426. The psychology of superstition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:15
Superstitions can seem irrational on the surface, but beneath them is something incredibly human - the need for meaning, comfort, and a sense of control in an uncertain world. In this episode, we explore the psychology o…