January 12, 2026
Right now, millions are embracing Dry January, giving up alcohol to boost their well-being, enhance productivity, and ditch the endless "I'll start Monday" cycle.
Similarly, your business struggles with its own version of Dry January—a list of tech habits that hold you back just like those cocktails.
These habits are familiar: risky shortcuts or inefficient routines everyone knows are problematic, yet keeps doing because "it's manageable" and "we're too busy."
Until suddenly, they aren't.
Discover six harmful tech routines to break immediately this month—and learn smarter alternatives that empower your business.
Habit #1: Postponing Software Updates by Hitting "Remind Me Later"
That innocuous button has jeopardized more small businesses than any hacker.
Interruptions may annoy you, but updates don't just add features—they seal security gaps hackers actively target.
Delaying updates stretches from days into months, leaving your software vulnerable with open backdoors for cyberattacks.
The notorious WannaCry ransomware crippled operations worldwide by exploiting a vulnerability patched months earlier—victims had repeatedly deferred updates.
Billions were lost across 150+ countries as business came to a halt.
Take control: Schedule updates for after hours or let your IT team handle them quietly in the background, ensuring your systems stay secure without disruption.
Habit #2: Using a Single Password Everywhere
Think your go-to password is strong and convenient? Using one password across all accounts—from email to banking to industry forums—is a ticking time bomb.
When a site gets breached, hackers obtain your email-password combo, enabling them to unlock other accounts via credential stuffing.
This stealthy attack accounts for a huge chunk of account takeovers, turning your "strong" password into an unreliable master key.
End the risk: Adopt a password manager like LastPass, 1Password, or Bitwarden. Just remember one master password—your manager creates and stores unique, complex passwords for every account, securing your digital life effortlessly.
Habit #3: Sharing Passwords via Text or Email
Sharing login info through Slack, email, or texts feels fast and easy but leaves a permanent, searchable, and forwardable digital footprint.
If any inbox is compromised, attackers can harvest every shared credential instantly—akin to mailing your house keys on a postcard.
Secure collaboration: Use password managers with secure sharing features so recipients gain access without ever seeing actual passwords. Permissions can be revoked instantly, eliminating records in emails. If you must share manually, split credentials across different channels and immediately update the password afterwards.
Habit #4: Granting Admin Access to Everyone for Convenience
Giving full admin rights because "it's easier" introduces massive security risks. Admins can install software, disable protections, alter settings, or delete files.
If an admin's credentials fall into the wrong hands, attackers gain the same powerful control—accelerating damage, especially during ransomware attacks.
Apply the principle of least privilege: Only assign users the access they need. Though it may take minutes longer to configure, this tiny step safeguards your entire business from costly breaches or accidental data loss.
Habit #5: Letting "Temporary" Workarounds Become Permanent
Quick fixes that were meant to be temporary often become entrenched in your workflow, adding unnecessary steps and requiring special knowledge.
This slows productivity and creates fragile systems—one change or forgotten detail can disrupt the entire process.
Break the cycle: Inventory your team's workarounds without trying to fix them alone. Partner with experts who can provide real, lasting solutions that save time, reduce errors, and end frustrations.
Habit #6: Relying on a Single Overcomplicated Spreadsheet to Run Your Business
That infamous Excel file with endless tabs and arcane formulas, used by just a few—what if it gets corrupted or those few people leave?
Spreadsheets lack full backups, audit trails, and don't scale or integrate well. They act as a fragile, unreliable backbone for critical processes.
Future-proof your operations: Document the business functions your spreadsheet supports, then switch to specialized software like CRM, inventory systems, or scheduling tools that provide security, backups, and collaborative control.
Why These Habits Persist Despite Knowing the Risks
You're not uninformed; you're overwhelmed and pressed for time—making shortcuts seem justifiable.
- Problems remain invisible until disaster strikes—password reuse works fine until it doesn't.
- The safer method often feels slower—setting up a password manager or adjusting permissions takes minutes, while typing memorized passwords feels faster.
- When everyone's doing it, bad habits look like the norm, masking the risk.
Dry January succeeds because it disrupts routine and sharpens awareness—visibility powers change.
Quitting Tech Habits: It's About Changing Your Environment, Not Willpower
Willpower-fueled changes rarely last. Instead, re-engineer your surroundings so the healthiest choices become easiest.
Smarter businesses deploy password managers across the team, automate updates, centrally manage permissions, replace workarounds with solid solutions, and migrate critical spreadsheets to reliable systems.
When good habits are default, bad habits become obstacles.
A proactive IT partner won't lecture—they'll reconfigure your systems to make secure, efficient behaviors the natural choice.
Ready to End the Tech Habits That Undermine Your Business?
Schedule a Bad Habit Audit today.
In just 15 minutes, we'll explore your business challenges and deliver a clear roadmap to eliminate these risky habits for good.
No pressure. No confusing jargon. Just a safer, smoother, more profitable 2026 awaits.
Click here or give us a call at (918) 770-9150 to book your 15-Minute Discovery Call.
Some habits deserve a cold turkey break—and January is the perfect moment to start.
