Björn Hedensjö is a psychologist, author and co-host of the popular podcast Dumma Människor. He has written books on everything from sleep and leadership to relationships and psychological resilience. His work has a recurring theme: taking research on human behaviour and making it useful, understandable and, quite often, entertaining.

What does a day look like in the life of Björn Hedensjö? We spent one with him in Stockholm, following him between recording sessions, meetings and whatever else the day had in store. Along the way, we talked about everything from toxic positivity to what he’d spend 100,000 SEK on.

How’s your day?
It’s a solid 6/10 so far.

What’s going well for you at the moment?
I might actually get a flat I’ve been really keen on. I’m looking at it this afternoon. Excited!

And what’s stressing you out?
That buying this flat will crush my personal finances.

Is there something you often advise people to do but completely ignore yourself?
That would be something related to impulse control and making decisions too quickly and on a whim. Yes, I am once again talking about that flat.

When did you last laugh properly?
I went to a party on a boat a couple of weeks back, and a girl at that party burst into the most amazing cackling laugh every five minutes or so. It was impossible not to break down laughing yourself every single time.

What are you irrationally afraid of?
Going to some kind of class at the gym and being scolded by a harsh instructor. Training is a solitary thing for me, and maybe that’s a reason why.

What’s the last thing you read, watched or listened to that stayed with you?
Angel Down by Daniel Krauss. The best novel I’ve read in years.

What’s the most overrated piece of self-help advice?
When positive thinking gurus get into “toxic positivity”, basically telling you to ignore anything difficult and painful. Usually it does more harm than good.

What’s something you spend too much time thinking about?
I daydream a lot! I mentally spend a lot of time in places I love, like my tiny house in Italy. But I’m not sure I want to do less of that, it’s usually pleasant. You could argue that too much daydreaming makes you miss things that are going on in the present moment.

What went through your mind when you decided what to put on today?
I put on a linen shirt to manifest summer. Outside it was cold and rainy, so that turned out to be a horrible idea.

What’s next for you?
It’s been a year since I published my last book. Maybe it’s time to start thinking about the next one.