January 12, 2026
Right now, millions are embracing Dry January as a commitment to better health and productivity.
Just like individuals cut out unhealthy drinks to feel and perform better, your business has its own version of a Dry January — a list of tech habits that are holding you back.
These are the common, risky, and inefficient tech behaviors everyone knows, but keeps ignoring because "it's manageable" or "we're too busy."
Until suddenly, they're not manageable anymore.
Let's dive into six harmful tech habits to drop immediately and discover better alternatives.
Habit #1: Delaying Critical Software Updates
Hitting "Remind Me Later" on updates might seem harmless, but it's one of the biggest vulnerabilities for small businesses.
While updates might disrupt your workflow, they often include crucial security patches that protect you from active cyber threats.
Postponing updates turns weeks into months, leaving your software exposed to hackers exploiting known weaknesses.
Remember the devastating WannaCry ransomware? It thrived by targeting systems that delayed updates, causing billions in losses across over 150 countries.
How to stop: Set updates to run after hours or empower your IT team to manage them quietly in the background. This keeps your systems secure without interrupting your day.
Habit #2: Using a Single Password Everywhere
Many choose a password that "feels strong" and reuse it across email, banking, shopping, and even obscure forums.
Sadly, data breaches at less secure sites leak these credentials, making your accounts vulnerable to hackers who try the same passwords everywhere.
This tactic, called credential stuffing, is a leading cause of account takeovers.
How to stop: Adopt a reputable password manager like LastPass, 1Password, or Bitwarden. Remember one master password, and let it generate and store complex, unique passwords for all your accounts—peace of mind in minutes.
Habit #3: Sharing Passwords Through Insecure Channels
Sharing logins via text, email, or messaging apps might be convenient, but these conversations live forever—archived, searchable, and vulnerable if any inbox gets hacked.
It's like mailing your house keys to someone—risky and untraceable.
How to stop: Use password managers with built-in secure sharing. They let recipients access credentials without ever exposing the actual passwords. If you must share manually, break up credentials across channels and change them immediately afterwards.
Habit #4: Granting Everyone Admin Access for Convenience
Giving admin rights to all team members because "it's easier" opens the door to serious risks. Admins can install software, change settings, disable security features, and delete data.
If an admin account is compromised, the attacker gains full control, often leading to severe damage like ransomware infections moving faster and inflicting more harm.
How to stop: Implement the principle of least privilege—grant only the permissions each person strictly needs. Though it requires an extra setup step, it significantly protects your business from costly breaches and mistakes.
Habit #5: Letting Temporary Fixes Become Permanent
Temporary workarounds often linger far beyond their intended lifespan.
While these quick fixes get the job done with extra steps and quirks, they drain productivity and create fragile processes prone to collapse when software or team members change.
How to stop: Identify all workaround practices in your operation and document them. Then, partner with experts to replace them with robust, sustainable solutions that streamline your workflows and eliminate daily frustrations.
Habit #6: Relying on a Single Spreadsheet to Run Your Business
That infamous spreadsheet—with countless tabs and complex formulas that only a handful of people understand—is a hidden risk.
If the file gets corrupted or its creator leaves, you're left exposed with no backup or clear process.
Spreadsheets lack audit trails, scalability, proper backups, and user controls—meaning you're depending on fragile, unsecure digital tapes to run vital business operations.
How to stop: Document the business functions that spreadsheet supports and transition those processes to dedicated software—customer relationship management, inventory, scheduling tools—all with built-in security, backups, and permissions.
Why Breaking These Habits Is Tough
You know these tech habits aren't ideal. The issue is being overwhelmed and busy, making it easier to stick with familiar routines.
- The risks seem invisible until disaster strikes suddenly.
- The right approach takes more time upfront, while shortcuts appear immediate.
- When everyone else does it, bad habits feel normal and invisible.
Dry January breaks similar autopilot behaviors by making problems visible and demanding action.
How to Quit Your Tech Bad Habits for Good
Willpower alone won't change these habits. The key is reshaping your environment so the safest, smartest actions become effortless.
- Company-wide use of password managers prevents insecure sharing.
- Automatic updates remove the option to delay vital patches.
- Centralized permission management stops excessive admin access.
- Real solutions replace fragile workarounds, ensuring stability.
- Dedicated software systems take over critical functions from risky spreadsheets.
When you redesign systems thoughtfully, the right habits become simple, and the wrong ones fade.
That transformation is exactly what a skilled IT partner delivers—not lectures, but real, lasting change.
Ready to Break Free from the Habits Holding Your Business Back?
Schedule a "Bad Habit Audit" with us today.
In just 15 minutes, we'll explore your biggest tech challenges and provide a clear, actionable plan to streamline and secure your operations for 2026 and beyond.
No judgments. No confusing jargon. Just a path to a more productive, protected, and profitable business.
Click here or give us a call at 303-415-2702 to book your 15-Minute Discovery Call.
Some habits deserve to end cold turkey—and there's no better time than January to start.
