January 12, 2026
Right now, millions are embracing Dry January.
They're ditching their usual drink to unlock better health, boost productivity, and stop postponing change with thoughts like "I'll start Monday."
Your business has its own version of Dry January — a list of tech habits to cut out.
These habits aren't cocktails, but they carry risks and inefficiencies just the same.
Everyone knows these are problematic. Yet, we keep them, convincing ourselves "it's fine" because we're busy.
Until suddenly, it isn't fine anymore.
Below are six damaging tech habits to stop immediately — and smart alternatives to replace them.
Habit #1: Constantly Postponing Software Updates
Clicking "Remind Me Later" on those updates causes more harm than any hacker could.
We understand — nobody wants unexpected restarts during busy hours. However, these updates do more than just add features; they seal security gaps that hackers are actively exploiting.
Delaying updates from days to weeks leaves your systems vulnerable, handing cybercriminals the keys.
Remember the notorious WannaCry ransomware? It devastated thousands of businesses worldwide by exploiting a vulnerability patched months prior, which victims ignored.
The fallout: billions lost across 150+ countries as operations ground to a halt.
How to stop: Schedule updates for the end of the day or let your IT team apply them seamlessly in the background — no interruptions, no security gaps.
Habit #2: Reusing the Same Password Everywhere
Everyone has "that" favorite password.
It fits the rules, feels secure, and is easy to remember — so you use it across email, banking, online stores, and even forgotten forums.
The catch is data breaches happen all the time. That obscure forum's database may have leaked years ago, putting your login credentials on the cybercriminal market.
They don't guess your bank password — they already have it and test it everywhere they can.
This attack, known as credential stuffing, is behind many account compromises. Your "strong" password is actually a universal key in the wrong hands.
How to stop: Use a password manager like LastPass, 1Password, or Bitwarden. Remember one master password; let the tool create and store unique, complex passwords for every account. Setup takes minutes; the peace of mind lasts indefinitely.
Habit #3: Sharing Passwords Through Insecure Messages
"Can you send login details?"
"Sure, username admin@company.com, password Summer2024!"
Quick fixes over Slack, email, or text seem convenient.
But those messages linger forever—in inboxes, sent folders, and cloud backups—making your credentials an easy target if any account is compromised.
Think of it as leaving your house keys written on a postcard in the mail.
How to stop: Use password managers with secure sharing features so recipients access accounts without seeing actual passwords, and permissions can be revoked anytime. If you must share manually, split credentials across channels and change passwords immediately after.
Habit #4: Giving Everyone Admin Access "For Convenience"
Maybe someone needed admin rights once, so instead of assigning proper limited access, you gave them full admin privileges.
Now, half your staff have unrestricted control over software installs, security settings, and critical data.
Compromised admin accounts can paralyze your business, especially with ransomware attacks that exploit such access.
It's like handing out the safe's keys to everyone because one person needed a stapler.
How to stop: Follow the principle of least privilege — assign users only the permissions they need. Investing a few extra minutes upfront prevents costly breaches and accidental deletions later.
Habit #5: Letting Temporary Fixes Become Permanent
When problems arise, you patch them temporarily. "We'll solve this properly later," you say — but sometimes "later" turns into years.
The workaround becomes the norm, even if it adds extra steps and complexity.
Such patches drain productivity and introduce fragility, depending heavily on specific people, outdated software, or complex tricks that no one fully understands.
How to stop: Make a list of all workarounds your team uses. Don't try fixing them alone—let experts help you implement permanent, efficient solutions that save time and reduce frustration.
Habit #6: Running Your Business on a Single Complex Spreadsheet
You know the file — one massive Excel workbook with dozens of tabs and complicated formulas understood by only a few, if any.
What happens if it gets corrupted or the key person leaves? Your entire operation could be at risk.
Spreadsheets lack audit trails, don't scale, rarely have proper backups, and offer no permission controls.
How to stop: Document the business processes your spreadsheet supports, then migrate those functions to specialized software like CRM, inventory management, or scheduling tools. These platforms offer security, backups, and user controls, eliminating reliance on fragile spreadsheets.
Why It's Tough to Break These Habits
Most of these issues aren't news to you.
It's not lack of knowledge; it's the pressure and pace of business life.
Reasons bad tech habits persist include:
- Risks remain unseen until disaster strikes—like reused passwords working flawlessly until they don't.
- Efficient shortcuts seem faster now, even though they lead to costly problems later.
- When everyone participates in risky behavior, it feels normal, obscuring the danger.
This hidden risk is exactly why Dry January works: it shines a light on invisible habits and breaks autopilot behaviors.
How to Quit These Habits for Good — Without Relying on Willpower
Willpower alone rarely succeeds; changing your environment does.
The same applies in tech.
Businesses that succeed do so by making the right actions the easiest choice:
- Company-wide deployment of password managers eliminates unsafe sharing.
- Automatic updates remove the temptation to delay critical patches.
- Centralized permission management prevents careless admin access.
- Proper solutions replace unreliable workarounds, reducing errors.
- Strategic migration from spreadsheets to secure software safeguards operations.
When the right way requires less effort than the bad way, good habits stick.
This is the true value a proactive IT partner brings — transforming your systems so the safest, smartest choices happen by default.
Ready to Break Free from the Habits Holding Your Business Back?
Schedule a Bad Habit Audit.
In just 15 minutes, we'll dive into your challenges and deliver a clear plan to eliminate them permanently.
No pressure. No tech jargon. Just a smoother, safer, and more profitable 2026 ahead.
Click here or give us a call at (419) 522-4001 to book your 15-Minute Discovery Call.
Some habits deserve to be cut cold turkey — and January is the perfect moment to begin.
