Habits and Hustle — Episode 518: "7 Habits You Must Stop to Level Up"
Host: Jen Cohen
Date: January 9, 2026

Episode Overview

In this solo episode, Jen Cohen flips the usual script by focusing on the habits and patterns that must be stopped—not just the ones to start—in order to transform your life and level up your success. Drawing on her personal experience and the most common questions she receives, Jen details seven specific habits that hold people back and offers actionable insights for replacing them with growth-oriented behaviors.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Stop Waiting to Feel Ready

• Theme: Readiness is a myth. Waiting until you feel “ready” is paralyzing and causes missed opportunities.
• Insight: Clarity comes from action, not from overthinking. Momentum is more valuable than waiting for the “perfect” moment.
• Quote:

  "Readiness is a total myth. You'll never feel perfectly ready. Clarity actually comes from action, not from overthinking, actually from doing."
  (Jen Cohen, 01:40)

2. Stop Surrounding Yourself with Negative Energy

• Theme: The company you keep greatly influences your success.
• Insight: Negative people drain creativity and momentum. Audit your circle—energy is contagious.
• Quote:

  "We've all heard that expression, right? We are the five people we are around the most. So true. Complainers drain your creativity and your momentum."
  (Jen Cohen, 02:19)

3. Stop Playing It Safe

• Theme: Comfort is seductive but ultimately destructive.
• Insight: Growth requires risk; discomfort now pays off later. Regret follows those who always play it safe.
• Quote:

  "Comfort feels good short term, but it kills long term. Growth risk is the entry fee for every next level ... Playing small guarantees regret. Risk guarantees experience."
  (Jen Cohen, 03:00)

• Mantra: "Rejection over regret every time."
  (03:20)

4. Stop Complaining

• Theme: Complaining blocks solutions and progress.
• Insight: High performers act instead of complaining. Taking responsibility leads to growth.
• Quote:

  "Complaining keeps you focused on problems, not progress. High performers use that same energy to take action."
  (Jen Cohen, 04:18)

• Advice: Every complaint is an opportunity to change something.

5. Stop Seeing Failure as Final

• Theme: Failure is not the end—it's instructive feedback.
• Insight: Setbacks teach lessons; quitting guarantees no growth. Fast failures lead to faster learning.
• Quote:

  "Failure is not final, it's data. Every setback teaches you what doesn't work. Quitting guarantees you'll never see the payoff."
  (Jen Cohen, 05:02)

6. Stop Saying Yes When You Mean No

• Theme: People-pleasing derails personal priorities.
• Insight: Every “yes” to something unimportant is a “no” to what matters. Boundaries are empowering, not rude.
• Quote:

  "People pleasing is self sabotage disguised in kindness. Every yes to something meaningless is a no to your actual priorities."
  (Jen Cohen, 05:48)

• Advice: Protect your time—discipline through boundaries builds the life you want.

7. Stop Consuming Before Creating

• Theme: Consuming content first thing in the day stifles originality.
• Insight: Scrolling before creating shifts your brain into comparison mode, not creation. Making before consuming preserves your unique voice.
• Quote:

  "Consuming first kills your creativity. When you start your day with other people's content creators, you lose your own voice."
  (Jen Cohen, 06:32)

• Mantra: "Create before you consume every time."

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On Growth and Discomfort:

  "Growth is uncomfortable. That's how you know it's actually working."
  (Jen Cohen, 05:23)

• On Boundaries:

  "Saying no doesn't make you difficult, it makes you disciplined."
  (Jen Cohen, 06:07)

• On Change:

  "The biggest difference between people who change and people who stay stuck isn't luck. It's what they're willing to walk away from."
  (Jen Cohen, 07:01)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:30] — Episode introduction: Shifting from adding to stopping habits
• [01:40] — The myth of readiness
• [02:19] — Impact of negative people on success
• [03:00] — Dangers of comfort and playing it safe
• [04:18] — How complaining undermines progress
• [05:02] — Failure as feedback versus finality
• [05:48] — The trap of people-pleasing and importance of boundaries
• [06:32] — Creating before consuming: protect your creativity
• [07:01] — Final thoughts: What you stop, not just what you start, defines growth

Closing Thought

Changing your life isn’t just about picking up new habits; it’s being brave enough to stop the ones holding you back. Jen’s empowering message: audit your habits ruthlessly and prioritize action, autonomy, and authenticity to move closer to the life you truly want.

For more practical strategies and candid life advice, subscribe to Habits and Hustle and let Jen know how these insights resonate with your journey!