January 12, 2026
Countless individuals are embracing Dry January right now.
They're ditching the harmful habit they know holds them back because they want to boost their well-being, enhance productivity, and stop delaying improvements with "I'll start Monday."
Your business faces its own version of Dry January.
Instead of cocktails, it's filled with tech habits that drag you down.
You're familiar with these risky, inefficient routines. Everyone knows better, yet they persist with "it's fine" and "we're too busy".
Until suddenly, it's not fine anymore.
Here are six damaging tech habits to completely eliminate this month — plus smart alternatives to replace them.
Habit #1: Postponing Software Updates with "Remind Me Later"
That tempting button has caused more harm to small businesses than any cyberattack.
We understand—no one wants unexpected restarts during work hours. But updates aren't just feature add-ons; they fix critical security vulnerabilities actively exploited by hackers.
Hitting "Later" turns into weeks, then months, leaving you exposed to known threats criminals already exploit.
Take the WannaCry ransomware outbreak: devastated hundreds of thousands worldwide by exploiting a flaw patched months earlier—but neglected due to update delays.
The fallout? Billions in losses across 150+ countries as businesses stalled.
Make the change: Schedule updates for after hours or have your IT team manage them quietly in the background. No interruptions, no vulnerabilities left open.
Habit #2: Using One Password Across Multiple Platforms
We all have that go-to password.
It fits strength standards, sticks in your memory, and you use it everywhere—from email to banking, Amazon, accounting software, even old forums.
Here's the catch: data breaches happen constantly. That old forum leaked user data last year, exposing your login details to hackers who buy them cheaply.
They don't need to guess your bank password; they already have it and try it on all your accounts.
This attack method, credential stuffing, causes most account hacks. Your "strong" password is a master key, duplicated and misused.
Stop now: Adopt a password manager like LastPass, 1Password, or Bitwarden. You memorize one master password, and the app creates and stores unique, robust passwords for every service. Quick setup, lifelong security.
Habit #3: Sharing Passwords Through Email or Messaging
"Can you send me the shared account login?"
"Sure! It's admin@company.com, password is Summer2024!"
Sent via Slack, text, or email, instantly solving the problem.
But now that message lingers forever—in sent folders, inboxes, cloud backups, searchable archives. The moment anyone's email gets compromised, the attacker finds "password" and harvests every shared credential.
It's like mailing your house key with your address on it.
Quit this: Use password managers' encrypted sharing tools so recipients access credentials without ever seeing the actual password. Shares can be revoked anytime and leave no permanent trace. If you must share manually, split credentials across different channels and reset passwords immediately.
Habit #4: Granting Everyone Admin Rights for Convenience
Someone needed to install software or change a setting once, and instead of assigning precise permissions, you gave them admin access.
Now, many on your team hold full administrative privileges just because it was quicker than doing it properly.
Admin access means they can install/uninstall software, disable security, modify critical configurations, or delete files. Should their credentials be stolen, attackers gain these wide-reaching powers.
Ransomware especially thrives when admin accounts are compromised, amplifying damage and speed.
Giving out admin rights like this is akin to handing everyone keys to the safe because one person needed occasional access.
Fix it: Enforce the principle of least privilege—grant users only the rights they need to perform their job and nothing more. Sure, it requires a bit more setup time, but it's a critical investment compared to the risks of breaches or accidental errors.
Habit #5: Allowing "Temporary" Workarounds to Persist Permanently
Something breaks; you apply a quick fix. "We'll do it properly later."
That was back in 2019.
Now, the workaround is just "how things get done."
Sure, it complicates steps. Sure, everyone must remember the trick. But it works, so why mess with it?
Because those extra steps, multiplied by every person each day, mean massive productivity losses.
Worse, these hacks rely on specific software versions or tribal knowledge. When changes occur—and they always do—the fragile system collapses, and no one knows how to fix it properly.
Change course: Compile a list of all workarounds your team depends on. Don't attempt fixes yourself—if you could, you likely would have already. Instead, let professionals help you replace these stop-gaps with robust, permanent solutions. Less frustration, more efficiency.
Habit #6: Running Your Business on a Single Complex Spreadsheet
You know it well.
One Excel file, a dozen tabs, tangled formulas only a few understand. The creator has left, and now just three people can maintain it.
If that file corrupts, what's the backup plan? If knowledgeable staff leave, who carries the torch?
This spreadsheet is a ticking time bomb masked in green.
Spreadsheets lack audit trails, proper backups, and scalability. Accidental deletions often go unnoticed, and they don't integrate well with modern tools. Relying on them for critical processes is digital duct tape holding your business together.
Quit this: Document the actual business functions that spreadsheet supports. Then replace them with dedicated software—CRMs for clients, inventory systems for stock, scheduling tools for appointments. These platforms offer backups, audit logs, user controls, and don't rely on individual expertise. Spreadsheets are great for analysis, but poor foundations for essential operations.
Why These Bad Habits Are So Persistent
You already know most are bad ideas.
It's not ignorance holding you back; it's being overwhelmed.
These habits endure because:
- The risks remain unseen until disaster hits. Reusing passwords feels safe until a breach suddenly reveals everything.
- The correct methods seem slower upfront. Setting up a password manager takes time, while typing memorized passwords is quick. But the potential cost of a breach far outweighs the momentary convenience.
- Widespread adoption normalizes poor practices. When everyone shares passwords insecurely, the risk feels minimal, masking the true danger.
This is precisely why Dry January works: it interrupts autopilot, making unconscious choices visible.
How to Break Free Without Relying on Willpower
Success in quitting bad habits depends less on willpower and more on reshaping your environment.
In tech, it's no different.
Businesses successfully ditch these habits by making good behavior the easiest choice:
- Company-wide deployment of password managers removes unsafe sharing options.
- Automatic update pushes erase the "remind me later" procrastination.
- Centralized permissions management prevents reckless admin rights distribution.
- Genuine solutions replace fragile workarounds, removing dependency on tribal knowledge.
- Key spreadsheets migrate to purpose-built systems featuring backups and access controls.
Good systems make the right choice the simple choice, so bad habits quickly become impossible.
This is the role of a skilled IT partner—not preaching ideals but transforming your procedures so security and efficiency come standard.
Ready to Break the Tech Habits Quietly Draining Your Business?
Schedule a Bad Habit Audit today.
In just 15 minutes, we'll uncover your pain points and deliver a clear, actionable plan to end these issues once and for all.
No judgment. No jargon. Only a cleaner, safer, faster, and more profitable 2026 awaits.
Click here or give us a call at 859-245-0582 to book your Discovery Call.
Some habits deserve to be quit cold turkey.
There's no better time than January to start.
