Dry January for Your Business: 6 Tech Habits Worth Letting Go
Every January, millions of people try Dry January.
They take a break from something they know isn’t helping them feel their best—so they can think clearer, work better, and stop telling themselves, “I’ll start Monday.”
Your business has its own version of Dry January.
It just involves technology instead of cocktails.
These are the tech habits everyone knows probably aren’t ideal… but still keeps around because “it works” and “we’re busy.”
Until one day, it doesn’t.
Here are six common tech habits worth quitting this month—and what to do instead.
Habit #1: Clicking “Remind Me Later” on Updates
We get it. Midday restarts are annoying. No one wants to interrupt their workflow.
But those updates aren’t just about new features—they often fix security holes that hackers already know about.
When “later” turns into weeks (or months), your systems are left exposed. Some of the biggest cyberattacks happened simply because updates were available… and ignored.
Try this instead:
Schedule updates for after hours or let your IT partner handle them quietly in the background. No surprises. No interruptions. No unnecessary risk.
Habit #2: Reusing the Same Password Everywhere
Most people have a go-to password. It feels strong, it’s easy to remember, and it “meets the requirements.”
The problem? If just one site gets breached—and breaches happen all the time—hackers try that same password everywhere else.
Suddenly, one leaked login opens many doors.
Try this instead:
Use a password manager. It creates and remembers strong, unique passwords for every account. You only remember one. Setup is quick. Peace of mind lasts much longer.
Habit #3: Sharing Passwords Over Email or Text
It feels harmless:
“Can you send me the login real quick?”
But once a password is sent through email, text, or chat, it lives there forever—searchable, forwardable, and backed up in the cloud.
Try this instead:
Password managers allow secure sharing without ever revealing the actual password. Access can be revoked anytime. If you must share manually, change the password immediately afterward.
Habit #4: Giving Everyone Admin Access Because It’s Faster
At some point, someone needed to install something—and giving admin rights felt easier than digging into permissions.
Now half the team has more access than they need.
Admin access means the ability to change settings, disable security tools, or accidentally delete critical files. If those credentials are ever compromised, the damage multiplies quickly.
Try this instead:
Give people access only to what they need. It takes a little more setup—but it greatly reduces risk and prevents costly mistakes.
Habit #5: “Temporary” Fixes That Never Got Fixed
Something broke. A workaround was created. Everyone agreed it was temporary.
That was years ago.
Workarounds cost more than they seem—extra steps, lost time, and fragile processes that depend on specific people or conditions.
Try this instead:
Start by listing your workarounds. You don’t have to fix them yourself. That’s exactly the kind of thing an IT partner can clean up once and for all.
Habit #6: The Spreadsheet That Runs Everything
One spreadsheet. Multiple tabs. Complex formulas. Only a few people understand it—and one of them doesn’t work here anymore.
That file is doing a lot of heavy lifting… with very little protection.
Try this instead:
Document what the spreadsheet actually does, then move those processes into tools designed for the job—CRM, scheduling, inventory, or accounting systems with backups, permissions, and audit trails.
Why These Habits Stick Around
This isn’t about ignorance. It’s about being busy.
The risks are invisible—until they’re not.
The “right way” feels slower—until something breaks.
And when everyone does it, it feels normal.
Dry January works because it breaks autopilot.
The same idea applies to your business tech.
How to Actually Break the Habits
The goal isn’t more willpower—it’s better systems.
When the right setup is in place:
- Updates happen automatically
- Password sharing becomes secure by default
- Permissions are managed centrally
- Workarounds disappear
- Critical systems are protected and backed up
That’s what a good IT partner does—not lectures, but builds an environment where the safe, smart choice is also the easy one.
If you are interested in hiring us to manage your IT infrastructure, please reach out to us here.