7 Mistakes You’re Making with Your Habits (and How to Fix Them with the CHANGE Framework)

We’ve all been there. It’s Sunday night, and you’re feeling fired up. You decide that tomorrow is the day everything changes. You’re going to wake up at 5:00 AM, hit the gym for ninety minutes, drink a gallon of water, read fifty pages of a book, and finally start that side hustle.

By Wednesday, you’re hitting snooze for the fourth time, grabbing a donut on the way to work, and feeling like a total failure.

The problem isn't your lack of discipline or desire. The problem is your strategy.

At Brady Young Change, we believe that transformation isn't a fluke: it’s a process. In our flagship book, CHANGE, we break down the six pillars of life transformation: Communication, Habits, Attitude, Network, Goals, and Education.

If you’re struggling to make your new routines stick, you’re likely falling into one of these seven common habit traps. Here is how to identify them and fix them using the CHANGE framework.

1. You’re Starting Too Big (The "H" and "G" Fix)

The biggest mistake people make is trying to overhaul their entire life in twenty-four hours. We call this "The Ambition Trap." You set a Goal (G) that is so massive it creates immediate resistance in your brain.

When you start too big, you rely on high levels of motivation. But motivation is like a fair-weather friend: it’s there when things are easy, but it vanishes the second you’re tired or stressed.

The Fix: Use the Habits (H) pillar to shrink your goal. Instead of "I’m going to run five miles a day," start with "I’m going to put on my running shoes and walk to the end of the block." This is a micro-habit. The goal isn't the distance; it's the consistency. Once the habit of putting on the shoes is automatic, the distance will follow.

2. You’re Relying Solely on Willpower

Willpower is a finite resource. If you spend your whole day making tough Business Decisions (as Brad Young discusses in his #1 bestseller Business Decision Making), you won't have the mental energy left to "will" yourself into a healthy habit by 6:00 PM.

The Fix: Design your environment to make the habit the path of least resistance. This falls under the Habits (H) pillar of the CHANGE framework. If you want to eat healthier, chop your vegetables on Sunday so they are the easiest thing to grab. If you want to stop scrolling on your phone, put it in another room. Stop testing your willpower and start building systems.

3. You’re Trying to Change Too Many Things at Once

In our quest for personal growth, we often try to "fix" every pillar of the CHANGE framework simultaneously. We try to improve our Communication, shift our Attitude, and expand our Network all in the same week. This leads to cognitive overload.

The Fix: Pick one keystone habit. A keystone habit is a routine that naturally spills over into other areas of your life. For many, this is exercise. When you work out, you often find yourself naturally wanting to eat better (Habits), feeling more confident (Attitude), and having more energy to connect with others (Network). Master one, and the rest will follow.

4. Your Goals Are Too Vague (The "G" Fix)

"I want to be more productive" is not a goal; it’s a wish. Vague intentions lead to vague results. If you don’t define exactly what success looks like, you’ll never know if you’ve achieved it.

The Fix: Use the Goals (G) pillar to get surgical. Use the SMART criteria (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound). Instead of "be more productive," try "I will spend the first 60 minutes of my workday on my highest-priority project without checking email." Now you have a clear target to aim for.

5. You’re Going Solo (The "N" and "C" Fix)

One of the most overlooked aspects of habit change is the Network (N) pillar. We are the average of the five people we spend the most time with. If your inner circle has habits that contradict your goals, you are fighting an uphill battle.

The Fix: Build a high-performer inner circle. Share your goals with a mentor or an accountability partner. Use the Communication (C) pillar to express your intentions clearly to those around you. When you tell your friends, "I’m focusing on my health right now, so I won't be joining for late-night drinks," you’re not just setting a boundary: you’re reinforcing your own identity.

6. You Have an "All-or-Nothing" Mindset (The "A" Fix)

Mistakes are inevitable. You will miss a gym session. You will have a bad day at work and snap at a colleague. Most people let one slip-up turn into a total collapse. "I already ruined my diet with that cookie, so I might as well eat the whole pizza."

The Fix: Shift your Attitude (A). In the book CHANGE, we emphasize that progress is not a straight line. Adopt the "Never Miss Twice" rule. Missing once is an accident; missing twice is the start of a new habit. Your attitude toward failure determines your altitude in life. View every setback as a data point for your Education (E), not a reflection of your character.

7. You’re Ignoring the "Why" (The "E" Fix)

Why are you trying to change this habit? If the answer is "because I should," you probably won't last long. Without a deep, research-backed understanding of why a change matters to you, your brain will eventually prioritize short-term comfort over long-term growth.

The Fix: Dive into the Education (E) pillar. Read the latest research on your specific goal. If you’re trying to improve your professional life, study the principles in Business Decision Making. When you understand the mechanics of how a habit improves your life: how it changes your brain chemistry or your bottom line: it becomes much easier to stay committed.

Bringing it All Together: The CHANGE Book

Habit formation isn't about being "better"; it’s about being different. It’s about looking at your life through the lens of the six pillars and realizing where the cracks are.

Whether you are trying to master your Communication to lead a team, overhaul your Habits for better health, or refine your Business Decision Making, the framework remains the same.

Are you ready to stop making these mistakes and start making a real impact?

Your Next Steps:

1. Identify one mistake from the list above that you are currently making.

2. Apply one fix from the CHANGE framework today.

3. Level up your education by picking up a copy of CHANGE or listening to our latest insights on the PodCentral Publishing Network.

Real change doesn't happen by accident. It happens by design. Let's get to work.