January 12, 2026
Right now, millions are embracing Dry January, choosing to skip alcohol to boost their health, focus, and productivity instead of relying on vague plans like "I'll start Monday."
Your business faces a similar challenge—a Dry January list of unhealthy tech habits that hamper efficiency and security.
These are not cocktails but daily practices everyone acknowledges as risky or inefficient, yet often rationalized with "it's fine" or "we're too busy."
Until the risk turns into a costly problem.
Discover six critical tech habits you must quit immediately and learn smarter strategies to replace them.
Habit #1: Postponing Software Updates with "Remind Me Later"
That tempting button has caused more setbacks for small businesses than any cyberattack.
We understand—reboots can disrupt workdays. But software updates often fix urgent security flaws actively targeted by hackers.
Delaying updates from days to weeks and months leaves your systems vulnerable to attacks like the infamous WannaCry ransomware, which exploited a patch Microsoft had released months earlier but was ignored by affected companies.
The fallout? Billions lost worldwide, millions of businesses incapacitated.
Stop delaying: Schedule updates for off-hours or let your IT partner handle them silently in the background—no interruptions, no exposure.
Habit #2: Using One Password Across Multiple Platforms
We all have that go-to password that "checks the boxes": seemingly strong, easy to recall, and used everywhere from emails to banking to obscure forums.
But with frequent data breaches, even forgotten websites leak your credentials, exposing you to credential stuffing attacks where hackers try your compromised password on all your accounts.
Your supposedly robust password acts like a master key in the wrong hands.
Break the cycle: Adopt a password manager—LastPass, 1Password, Bitwarden—to generate and securely store unique, complex passwords. You only need to remember one master password, making setup quick and granting lasting security peace.
Habit #3: Sharing Passwords Via Insecure Channels Like Email or Messaging
Sharing account credentials over Slack, email, or text seems fast and easy—"Here's the login and password!"—but those messages linger indefinitely in inboxes, archives, and backups.
If anyone's email is ever compromised, attackers can easily locate passwords by searching those messages, putting your entire team at risk.
It's equivalent to mailing your house keys in a postcard.
Secure your sharing: Use password managers with encrypted sharing features. This grants access without revealing actual passwords and allows you to revoke it anytime. If manual sharing is unavoidable, split credentials among different channels and change passwords immediately after.
Habit #4: Granting Universal Admin Rights for Convenience
Often, admin privileges are given wholesale because it's faster than managing precise permissions.
But admin rights allow users to install software, disable protective tools, modify critical configurations, or delete vital files. If compromised, hackers inherit these extensive powers, accelerating damage—especially from ransomware.
Handing out admin access liberally is like giving everyone the safe's keys because one needed a stapler.
Enforce strict access controls: Apply the principle of least privilege—allocate only the necessary permissions. The extra setup effort is minor compared to the catastrophic consequences of a breach or accidental data loss.
Habit #5: Letting "Temporary" Workarounds Become Permanent
Quick fixes may seem harmless, but those shortcuts turn into the status quo, adding steps, complexity, and reliance on fragile processes or unique knowledge.
Inevitably, changes will break these hacks, leading to failure and confusion, but by then, no one remembers the original proper solution.
Address it now: Compile a list of all such workarounds. Don't attempt the fixes yourself—partner with experts who can architect sustainable solutions that save time and boost reliability.
Habit #6: Relying on a Single Complex Spreadsheet to Run Your Business
You know that infamous Excel file with endless tabs and convoluted formulas, understood by only a few, none of whom may still be with the company.
If it corrupts or its keeper leaves, recovery or maintenance becomes a nightmare.
Such spreadsheets are ticking time bombs lacking proper backups, audit trails, and scalability.
Upgrade your systems: Document what the spreadsheet manages in terms of business workflows, then migrate to specialized software like CRM, inventory management, or scheduling tools that offer robustness, backups, and controlled access.
Why Breaking These Tech Habits Is Often So Challenging
You already recognize these habits as problematic, but time constraints get in the way.
Common reasons bad habits persist include:
- Risks are hidden until a disaster strikes, making dangers seem intangible.
- Proper methods may feel slower immediately, overshadowing their long-term benefits.
- Widespread adoption normalizes risky behaviors, making them invisible.
Dry January's success comes from forcing mindfulness and disrupting autopilot—exactly what your business needs to strip away damaging tech routines.
How to Break the Cycle Without Relying on Willpower Alone
Willpower alone won't overhaul your tech habits—your environment must be redesigned to make good practices effortless:
- Company-wide deployment of password managers eliminates insecure sharing.
- Automatic software updates remove procrastination temptations.
- Centralized permissions avoid careless admin rights delegation.
- Replacing workarounds with solid solutions reduces dependency on tribal knowledge.
- Migrating critical spreadsheets to dedicated applications safeguards data integrity.
When the right approach is the easiest option, harmful habits fade and your business thrives.
This is the true value of a skilled IT partner: not preaching, but transforming systems so secure, efficient behaviors become the unquestioned norm.
Are You Ready to Eliminate Hidden Tech Habits Undermining Your Business?
Schedule a Bad Habit Audit today.
In just 15 minutes, we'll assess your business's challenges and deliver a clear, actionable roadmap to fix them permanently.
No pressure. No jargon. Just a safer, more streamlined, and profitable year ahead.
Click here or give us a call at 312-564-5446 to schedule your Initial Consultation.
Some habits deserve to be kicked cold turkey—and there's no better time than January to start.
