January 12, 2026
Right now, millions are participating in Dry January, intentionally setting aside alcohol to boost well-being and productivity, breaking the cycle of "I'll start Monday."
Your business has its own version of Dry January—a list of outdated tech habits holding you back, just like that cocktail you'd rather skip.
These are the habits everyone recognizes as risky or inefficient, yet they persist because "it's fine" and "we're too busy." But eventually, those excuses run out.
Here are six critical tech habits to eliminate immediately, along with smarter strategies to replace them.
Habit #1: Postponing Software Updates with "Remind Me Later"
This seemingly harmless button has jeopardized small businesses more than any hacker could.
While avoiding inconvenient restarts is understandable, these updates do more than add features—they patch security flaws actively targeted by cybercriminals.
Delaying updates from days to weeks to months leaves your systems vulnerable. The infamous WannaCry ransomware exploited a patch Microsoft released two months prior, affecting victims who repeatedly deferred updates.
Businesses across 150 countries suffered billions in losses as operations halted.
Take Action: Schedule updates for off-hours or have your IT provider deploy them silently in the background—no interruptions, no security gaps.
Habit #2: Reusing a Single Password Everywhere
It's tempting to rely on one password that "meets requirements" and is easy to remember, used across email, banking, shopping, and old forums.
But data breaches happen constantly. That forgotten forum's leaked credentials now fuel hacker attacks on your other accounts through credential stuffing.
Your so-called strong password is a master key in the wrong hands.
Take Action: Adopt a password manager like LastPass, 1Password, or Bitwarden. Remember one master password; let it create and securely store unique, complex passwords everywhere else. Setup is quick, and peace of mind lasts indefinitely.
Habit #3: Sharing Passwords Via Text or Email
Sending credentials through Slack, email, or messaging seems fast and easy.
But those messages linger indefinitely—stored in inboxes, cloud backups, and searchable archives. If any account is compromised, hackers can extract every shared password instantly.
This digital equivalent of mailing your house key jeopardizes your security.
Take Action: Use password managers with built-in secure sharing features so recipients access credentials without seeing them outright. If manual sharing is unavoidable, split information across different channels and change passwords immediately afterwards.
Habit #4: Granting Everyone Admin Access for Convenience
Assigning admin rights to multiple team members may seem faster than managing proper permissions.
But admins can install software, disable security, modify settings, or delete critical data. If compromised, attackers gain full control.
Ransomware thrives on admin-level access, escalating damage rapidly.
Take Action: Apply the principle of least privilege—give users only the access they need. Though it takes a bit more setup, it's a small price for preventing costly breaches or accidental data loss.
Habit #5: Letting Temporary Workarounds Become Permanent
A quick fix from years ago often becomes the norm, even if it's inefficient.
Extra steps, confusing tricks, and reliance on specific individuals result in lost productivity and fragile processes that break when changes occur.
Take Action: List all current workarounds your team relies on. Don't try to fix them alone—partner with experts who can implement lasting solutions that eliminate frustration and save valuable time.
Habit #6: Relying on One Complex Spreadsheet to Run Your Business
That overwhelming Excel file with multiple tabs and formulas known by only a few employees is a ticking time bomb.
If corrupted or if those experts leave, your entire operation is at risk due to lack of backup, audit trails, and scalability.
Take Action: Document what the spreadsheet does and transition to specialized software—CRM for customers, inventory management, scheduling tools—that offer security, backups, permissions, and transparency.
Why Breaking These Habits Is Challenging
You know better, but being busy lets these risks slip under the radar.
- Consequences remain hidden until disaster strikes.
- The "proper" methods seem slower initially compared to easy shortcuts.
- Common bad practices feel normal, making dangers invisible.
This is precisely why Dry January is effective—it disrupts autopilot behavior and reveals hidden issues.
How to Successfully Quit Without Relying on Willpower
It's not about discipline, but reshaping your environment to make the right choices effortless:
- Company-wide password managers block risky sharing.
- Automated updates remove the "remind me later" option.
- Centralized permission management prevents excess admin rights.
- Permanent solutions replace unreliable workarounds.
- Essential spreadsheets migrate to robust, backed-up platforms.
When the optimal behavior becomes the easiest, bad habits fade away.
This is the role of a proactive IT partner—transforming your systems to embed security and efficiency in your daily operations without nagging.
Ready to End the Tech Habits Holding Your Business Back?
Schedule a Bad Habit Audit today.
In just 15 minutes, we'll assess your challenges and provide a clear roadmap to streamline, secure, and accelerate your business into 2026 and beyond.
No jargon. No judgment. Just actionable steps toward a safer, faster, and more profitable future.
Click here or give us a call at 507-718-4288 to book your 15-Minute Call.
Some habits deserve to be quit cold turkey—there's no better time than January to start.
