January 12, 2026
Right now, millions are embracing Dry January.
They're cutting out the one thing they know harms them because they want sharper focus, increased productivity, and to stop delaying change with empty promises like "I'll start Monday."
Your business has its own Dry January list—tech habits you need to ditch.
Instead of cocktails, it's those risky, inefficient routines everyone uses but no one admits are holding their company back.
We all recognize these habits as problematic, yet we keep them because "it's easier" or "we're too busy."
Until the consequences hit.
Here are six harmful tech habits to eliminate immediately—and smarter alternatives to implement instead.
Habit #1: Snoozing Software Updates with "Remind Me Later"
That innocent button has jeopardized more small businesses than any cyberattack.
We understand avoiding mid-day restarts, but updates don't just add features; they close security gaps hackers eagerly exploit.
Delaying updates from days to weeks to months means running vulnerable software with open doors for attackers.
Remember the WannaCry ransomware disaster? It spread by exploiting vulnerabilities patched by Microsoft months earlier—patches ignored due to postponed updates.
The fallout? Billions lost and operations stalled across 150+ countries.
Fix It: Set updates for end-of-day installs or empower your IT team to deploy them silently in the background—ensuring security without disrupting workflows.
Habit #2: Using One Password Across All Accounts
Chances are you have a go-to password that meets basic criteria, is easy to recall, and you recycled everywhere—from your email and bank to obscure forums.
The real risk? Data breaches happen constantly, and your credentials could be sold on hacker marketplaces after a leak from a less secure site.
Hackers don't need to guess your banking password; they already have it. They simply "try it everywhere"—unlocking your accounts one by one.
This attack method, called credential stuffing, causes a vast number of breaches. Your "strong" password is effectively a master key copied by criminals.
Fix It: Adopt a password manager like LastPass, 1Password, or Bitwarden. You maintain one secure master password while the tool generates and stores unique, complex passwords for each account—offering lasting peace of mind.
Habit #3: Sharing Passwords Through Email or Chat
"Can you send me the login details?" "Sure—email: admin@company.com, password: Summer2024!"
Fast solution, right? But those messages linger indefinitely—in inboxes, sent folders, cloud backups—searchable and forwardable.
If anyone's email is hacked, attackers can quickly retrieve all shared credentials by searching for "password." It's like mailing your house key to a stranger.
Fix It: Leverage the secure sharing features within password managers. Recipients get access without seeing the actual password, and access can be revoked anytime. If you must share manually, distribute credentials over multiple platforms and change them immediately after.
Habit #4: Granting Everyone Admin Rights "For Convenience"
When someone once needed to install software or change a setting, it seemed easier to just give them full admin rights.
Now a large portion of your team has unrestricted access.
Admin privileges mean the ability to install software, disable security, change critical settings, or delete vital files. If those credentials are compromised, hackers gain the same control.
Ransomware thrives on admin accounts, multiplying damage and accelerating attacks.
Giving everyone admin rights is like handing out keys to the safe because someone once needed a stapler.
Fix It: Enforce the Principle of Least Privilege. Assign individuals only the access they need to perform their roles. Spending extra minutes on permission setup today prevents costly security incidents tomorrow.
Habit #5: Letting Temporary Workarounds Become Permanent Processes
When something stopped working, quick fixes were found. "We'll fix it for real later." Years later, those temporary hacks are standard operating procedure.
Yes, they add unnecessary steps and rely on people remembering tricks, but if the job gets done, why fix it?
These shortcuts diminish productivity at scale and create fragile systems dependent on specific conditions or personnel.
When changes inevitably happen, these hacks break, and no one knows how to repair them properly.
Fix It: Document all workarounds your team relies on. Don't try to fix it alone; instead, let us help replace these quick fixes with permanent, efficient solutions that save time and reduce frustration.
Habit #6: Relying on a Single Complex Spreadsheet to Run Your Entire Business
You know the file: dozens of tabs, convoluted formulas only a handful understand, created by a former employee.
If it gets corrupted or the keeper leaves, what's your backup plan?
This spreadsheet is a fragile single point of failure disguised as a vital business tool.
Spreadsheets lack audit trails, don't scale well, can't integrate easily, and aren't always backed up properly. They're digital duct tape, not a foundation.
Fix It: Map out the core business functions your spreadsheet supports, then transition to specialized tools designed for those tasks—like CRM for customer management, inventory systems, and scheduling platforms—which offer security, backups, permissions, and scalability.
Why Breaking These Habits Is Challenging
You're well aware these are pitfalls.
The barrier is your workload, not ignorance.
These habits persist because:
- Issues remain invisible until they cause major damage—all your password reuse does is work... until it catastrophically doesn't.
- Doing things "right" seems slower upfront—setting up password managers might take hours—but it prevents costly breaches and reputational damage.
- Normalization of risky behavior—when an entire team shares passwords insecurely, it feels normal and safe, masking the risk.
This mirrors why Dry January succeeds: it surfaces hidden problems, disrupts autopilot behaviors, and cultivates awareness.
How to Break These Habits Without Relying on Willpower
Willpower alone won't sustain change. Instead, reshape your environment.
Successful businesses don't depend on discipline; they implement systems that make good habits effortless:
- Deploy company-wide password managers to eliminate insecure sharing.
- Automate software updates so "remind me later" isn't even an option.
- Centralize permission controls to prevent careless admin rights giveaways.
- Replace workarounds with robust, documented processes.
- Move critical data from fragile spreadsheets to professional platforms with backups and audit capability.
When the right choice is the easiest choice, outdated habits quickly fall away.
This is what a trusted IT partner does: they don't just tell you what to do—they transform your systems so secure and efficient practices become your default.
Ready to Ditch the Hidden Habits Draining Your Business?
Schedule a Bad Habit Audit today.
In just 15 minutes, we'll assess your business challenges and provide a clear, actionable plan to eliminate these costly tech pitfalls once and for all.
No judgment. No techno-jargon. Just a safer, smoother, and more profitable 2026 awaits.
Click here or give us a call at 678-940-8992 to book your 15-Minute Discovery Call.
Some habits deserve to be broken cold turkey—and there's no better time than January to start.
