January 12, 2026
Millions of people are doing Dry January right now.
They're cutting the one thing they know isn't good for them because they
want to feel better, work better, and stop pretending "I'll start Monday" is a
plan.
Your business has a Dry January list too.
It's just made of tech habits instead of cocktails.
You know the ones. Everyone knows they're risky or inefficient. Everyone
still does them because "it's fine" and "we're busy."
Until it's not fine.
Here are six bad tech habits to quit cold turkey this month and what to do
instead.
Habit #1: Clicking "Remind Me Later" on Updates
That little button has done more damage to small businesses than most people
realize.
We get it. Nobody wants a restart in the middle of the day. But updates are
not just feature tweaks. They often patch security holes that criminals already
know how to exploit.
"Later" turns into weeks. Weeks turn into months. And now you're running
software with known vulnerabilities that attackers are actively scanning for.
That's exactly how the WannaCry ransomware attack spread.
Microsoft had released a security update months earlier. Many organizations,
including hospitals, manufacturers, logistics companies, and professional
services firms, never installed it. When WannaCry launched, it automatically
scanned for unpatched systems and locked them in minutes.
Operations shut down across more than 150 countries. Not because companies
were careless. Not because they were targeted. Simply because updates were
postponed.
Quit it: Schedule updates after hours or let your IT partner handle them
automatically. No surprise restarts. No interruptions. And no open doors for
attackers.
Habit #2: The One Password That Works Everywhere
You've got a favorite password.
It meets requirements. It's easy to remember. And it gets reused across
email, banking, client portals, accounting software, and that random industry
site you signed up for years ago.
Here's the problem. Data breaches happen constantly. When one service is
compromised, attackers test those same credentials everywhere else. Email,
financial accounts, document systems, even remote access tools.
This is called credential stuffing, and it's one of the most common causes
of breaches at law firms, insurance agencies, and healthcare practices.
Quit it: Use a password manager. One master password. Unique credentials
everywhere else. Setup takes minutes. Protection lasts indefinitely.
Habit #3: Sharing Passwords Over Text or Email
"Can you send me the login?"
It feels harmless. It solves the problem fast.
But that message now lives forever. In inboxes, backups, and cloud archives.
If one account is compromised, attackers can search years of shared credentials
in seconds.
For regulated businesses handling client data, case files, or financial
records, this is a serious exposure.
Quit it: Use secure password-sharing tools built into password managers.
Access can be granted or revoked without exposing the actual password.
Habit #4: Making Everyone an Admin Because "It's Easier"
Someone needed to install something once. Instead of adjusting permissions
properly, they were made an admin.
Now half the team has full system control.
Admin access allows software installation, security changes, and
system-level modifications. If those credentials are compromised, attackers
inherit the same power.
Ransomware spreads faster and causes more damage through admin accounts,
especially in environments with shared systems like accounting firms or
manufacturing offices.
Quit it: Follow the principle of least privilege. Give people only the
access they need. Nothing more.
Habit #5: "Temporary" Fixes That Became Permanent
Something broke. A workaround was created. It was supposed to be temporary.
That was years ago.
Workarounds drain productivity and create fragility. They depend on specific
people, habits, and conditions. When one element changes, everything breaks.
This is common in professional services, insurance offices, and operations
teams where "the system" lives in people's heads.
Quit it: Document recurring workarounds and replace them with proper
solutions that scale and survive staff changes.
Habit #6: The Spreadsheet That Runs Your Entire Business
One spreadsheet. Multiple tabs. Complex formulas. One or two people who
truly understand it.
If that file corrupts or that person leaves, what happens?
Spreadsheets lack audit trails, proper access controls, and reliable
backups. They are powerful tools but dangerous platforms for core operations.
Quit it: Identify what the spreadsheet actually does and move those
functions into systems built for that purpose.
Why These Habits Are So Hard to Break
You already know these are bad habits.
The issue is not awareness. It's bandwidth.
They persist because the consequences stay invisible until something breaks.
And by then, the damage is immediate and expensive.
That's why Dry January works. It forces awareness. It breaks autopilot.
How to Quit Without Relying on Willpower
The businesses that succeed do not rely on discipline. They change their
environment.
Updates happen automatically. Password managers remove insecure sharing.
Permissions are enforced centrally. Workarounds are replaced. Systems become
predictable.
That is what a good IT partner does. They make the right behavior the
default.
Ready to Quit the Habits That Are Quietly Hurting Your Business?
In 15 minutes, we will identify the habits costing you time, money, and
sleep, and show you how to eliminate them without disruption.
No jargon. No pressure. Just a safer, smoother, more reliable year ahead.
Because some habits are worth quitting cold turkey. And January is a good time to start.
