January 12, 2026
Right now, millions are embracing Dry January — it's a powerful choice to ditch something that harms their well-being.
They're aiming to boost their energy, sharpen focus, and finally stop the endless "I'll start Monday" cycle.
Your company has its own version of Dry January — except it's about leaving behind harmful tech habits, not cocktails.
These habits are all too familiar. Everyone recognizes they're risky or inefficient, yet we cling to them because "it's fine" and "we're too busy."
But the truth is, these habits eventually catch up.
Here are six damaging tech habits to eliminate immediately, and effective alternatives to replace them.
Habit #1: Delaying Software Updates with "Remind Me Later"
This innocent button has caused more harm to small businesses than most cyber attacks.
We get it — no one wants their computer restarting unexpectedly during work. But updates go beyond adding features; they fix security flaws hackers exploit in real-time.
Procrastinating updates from days to weeks, then months leaves your systems vulnerable with open doors for cybercriminals.
Take the infamous WannaCry ransomware: it spread globally by exploiting a vulnerability Microsoft patched two months earlier. Every victim had postponed updates multiple times.
This attack caused billions in losses and business shutdowns in over 150 countries.
Action to take: Schedule updates during off-hours or let your IT team install them silently in the background. No interruptions, no risks, just secure systems.
Habit #2: Using One Password Everywhere
We all have that go-to password — it meets basic security rules, easy to remember, and we use it across email, banking, shopping, and even forgotten forums.
The problem? Data breaches are a constant threat. If even one platform leaks your credentials, hackers buy that info cheaply and test it across all your accounts.
This method, called credential stuffing, accounts for a huge number of account hacks. Your "strong" password becomes a master key in the wrong hands.
Action to take: Adopt a password manager like LastPass, 1Password, or Bitwarden. You only remember one master password, and it creates unique, complex passwords for every account. Setup takes minutes; protection lasts forever.
Habit #3: Sharing Passwords via Text or Email
Passing around login details through Slack, text, or email seems quick and easy.
But those messages never disappear — they're stored in inboxes, cloud backups, and can be forwarded or searched by anyone who gains access.
It's equivalent to mailing your house keys to a stranger.
Action to take: Use password manager's secure sharing functions. Recipients get access without seeing actual passwords; permissions can be revoked anytime, leaving no digital footprints. If manual sharing is unavoidable, split credentials across different channels and update the password immediately after.
Habit #4: Granting Everyone Admin Rights for Convenience
Maybe once someone needed to install a program and instead of adjusting permissions, they were made an admin. Now, half the team has full administrative control.
Admin access means the power to install software, disable security features, change settings, or delete files — and if a hacker steals admin credentials, the damage multiplies.
Ransomware attacks thrive on admin access. More rights mean faster, wider destruction.
Action to take: Apply the principle of least privilege: everyone gets only the permissions absolutely needed. A small upfront effort in configuring roles saves huge risks in the long run.
Habit #5: Allowing Temporary Workarounds to Become Permanent
A quick fix that was meant to be temporary has now become standard practice — often cumbersome and inefficient.
These workarounds waste time multiplied across employees and days, slashing productivity significantly.
Worse yet, these makeshift solutions are fragile, often relying on specific software versions or knowledge that vanishes when employees leave.
Action to take: List all workarounds used by your team. Don't try to fix them alone — instead, partner with experts who can identify permanent solutions that save time and reduce frustration.
Habit #6: Relying on a Complex Spreadsheet to Run Critical Operations
You know the one: an overloaded Excel file with countless tabs and complex formulas understood by only a few, none of whom are readily available.
One corrupt file or departed employee could halt your entire operation.
Spreadsheets lack audit trails, don't scale well, have poor backup options, and depend on fragile expertise — making them unreliable as business platforms.
Action to take: Document what the spreadsheet actually supports, then transition those processes to professional tools such as CRMs for sales, inventory management software, and scheduling apps — all offering better security, backups, and user controls.
Why These Bad Habits Persist Despite Awareness
You already know these practices are risky — the barrier isn't ignorance; it's the pressure of a busy schedule.
- The risks are invisible until disaster strikes. Password reuse seems harmless until accounts get hacked simultaneously.
- Doing things "the right way" feels slower initially — setting up password managers or adjusting permissions takes time, while old habits are faster moment-to-moment.
- When everyone else follows risky shortcuts, it normalizes the behavior and masks the danger.
This is exactly why Dry January succeeds for some — it forces a break in autopilot, making risk visible.
How to Successfully Break Tech Habits (Beyond Willpower)
Willpower alone won't sustain change; altering your environment makes secure practices automatic.
Smart businesses create systems where the safest actions are the easiest choices:
- Company-wide deployment of password managers eliminates insecure sharing.
- Automatic update installations remove the "remind me later" temptation.
- Centralized permission management prevents unnecessary admin access.
- Permanent fixes replace fragile workarounds and tribal knowledge.
- Critical spreadsheets get replaced by robust, backed-up software platforms.
By making good habits the default, the hard-to-break behaviors simply fall away.
This is the impact a proactive IT partner delivers — no lectures, just system improvements that foster safer, more efficient workflows.
Ready to Eliminate the Digital Habits Silently Dragging Down Your Business?
Schedule a Bad Habit Audit with us.
In 15 minutes, we'll evaluate your business challenges and provide a clear, actionable plan to permanently eliminate these costly issues.
No judgment. No confusing jargon. Just a smoother, safer, more profitable year ahead.
Click here or give us a call at 816-233-3777 to book your 15-Minute Discovery Call.
Because some habits deserve to be quit cold turkey — and there's no better moment than January to begin.
