Millions of people are doing Dry January right now, cutting out what 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 its own Dry January list.
It’s not cocktails, it’s bad tech habits.

These habits feel harmless. They’re “fine” because you’re busy. Until they’re not.
Here are six tech habits Vancouver small businesses should quit immediately and what to do instead.

Habit #1: Clicking “Remind Me Later” on Updates

That little button has done more damage to small businesses than any hacker ever could. Updates patch security holes hackers actively exploit. Delay them, and you’re running software with known vulnerabilities.

Quit it: Schedule updates for after hours or let your IT support team or managed IT services provider handle them automatically. No drama. No downtime. No open doors for attackers.

Habit #2: Using One Password Everywhere

Credential stuffing attacks thrive on reused passwords. If one site gets breached, hackers try that password everywhere, email, banking, accounting software.

Quit it: Deploy a password manager companywide. It creates unique, complex passwords for every account. Setup takes minutes. Peace of mind lasts forever.

Habit #3: Sharing Passwords Over Email or Text

“Send me the login” seems harmless, until that message lives forever in inboxes and backups. If an account gets compromised, attackers search for “password” and harvest credentials.

Quit it: Use secure sharing features in password managers. No permanent record. No risk.

Habit #4: Making Everyone an Admin

Granting admin rights “just to make it easier” is a huge security risk. If those credentials get phished, attackers have full control.

Quit it: Apply the principle of least privilege. Give access only to what’s needed. Your cybersecurity strategy depends on it.

Habit #5: Temporary Fixes That Became Permanent

Workarounds save time in the moment but cost productivity long-term and create fragility. When something changes, everything breaks.

Quit it: Document workarounds and let your IT support team replace them with real solutions.

Habit #6: The Spreadsheet That Runs Your Entire Business

One Excel file with 12 tabs and mystery formulas is a single point of failure. If it corrupts or the person who understands it quits, you’re stuck.

Quit it: Move to proper tools, CRM, inventory software, scheduling systems. These have backups, audit trails, and security controls.

Why These Habits Stick

You’re not uninformed, you’re busy. Bad habits persist because consequences are invisible until catastrophic. The fix feels slower in the moment. And everyone else does it too.

How to Actually Quit

Willpower doesn’t work. Systems do.
The businesses that succeed change their environment:

  • Password managers deployed companywide
  • Updates pushed automatically
  • Permissions managed centrally
  • Workarounds replaced with real solutions
  • Spreadsheets migrated to secure platforms

That’s what a good managed IT services provider does. They make the right way the easy way.

Ready to Quit the Habits That Hurt Your Business?

Book a Bad Habit Audit.
✅ 15 minutes
✅ No jargon
✅ No judgment
✅ Just a roadmap to safer, faster, more profitable tech.

Schedule your 15-minute discovery call now

Because some habits are worth quitting cold turkey.
And January’s the perfect time to start.