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5 Toxic Tech Habits You Need to Quit in 2025
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January 21, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 15 minutes
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JANUARY 21, 2025
Talking Points
If You’re Too Busy
It’s Tuesday, so you know what that means: it’s how-to time. Every week, a guest expert will share some tactical career advice (and answer your pressing questions). Today, how to get rid of toxic tech habits and give yourself a well-deserved digital reset with tips from Sarah Baker, a technology and automation coach and host of the podcast, Tech Savvy 101: AI & Automation Made Simple. You might not even realize you’re doing these things. 👀 💻
5 Toxic Tech Habits You Need to Quit in 2025 ✌️
1. The App-Collecting Obsession 🧺
Hoarding apps like Pokémon cards? You're not alone. Having too many apps and software subscriptions leads to confusion, inefficiency, and subscription ($$$) overload. In fact, you’re probably paying for at least two to three apps or software subscriptions you aren’t using at all right now. The problem? Wasted money and time switching between platforms.
THE FIX: Conduct a ruthless tech audit. List all your tools, assess how you’re using them, and then start making cuts.
Pro Tip: Head to the software websites to check out all of the features—more often than not there are features you’re not aware of. Last year, when I conducted a tech audit for my business, I was able to cancel over $1,800 in annual software expenses. 🤯
2. Phone Time Overdrive ⏰
Being able to work from your phone is both a blessing and a curse. The downside? Excessive screen time eats into productivity and mental health. How many times have you opened your phone to check an email but got sidetracked by Instagram… and then a text message popped up… and then you opened Amazon to order something… and then the next thing you knew you’d somehow lost 45 minutes? (No judgment… we’ve all been there!)
THE FIX: Set boundaries with apps. When possible, use app timers or schedule phone-free work blocks. I use Session and love it!
3. The Free Tool Trap 🕳️
Free tools often come with limitations that prevent you from scaling or being efficient. Remember to include the cost of your time when assessing the value of a tool.
While free tools seem budget-friendly, they come with hidden costs: limited features and hours of lost productivity. When I upgraded to Manychat for social media automation, I reclaimed hours every week that I was able to. I was then able to use those hours on more productive, income-generating tasks within my business, which increased my overall revenue.
THE FIX: Invest where it counts. Calculate how much time premium features could save you, then multiply that by your hourly rate. The math often speaks for itself.
4. Sleeping on Updates + New Features 😴
One of the BIGGEST updates we’re going to see across the board in 2025 is apps and software rolling out new AI features. In order to stay competitive, almost every software you’re currently using will likely offer some type of AI feature by the end of the year, if they don’t already. However, if you’re not paying attention to these new features and updates, you’ll be missing out!
THE FIX: Set quarterly check-ins to review your most-used tools. Think of it like an oil change for your digital life. Use your project management system (I love Asana for this) to schedule these tech tune-ups and stay ahead on top of the latest feature updates. This will help you save time and get the most out of the tech tools you’re paying for.
5. AI Avoidance 🤖
Maybe you’re avoiding AI because of uncertainty over how to use it effectively. Maybe you’re concerned about the potential of AI replacing jobs, or the ethics of using AI. Or maybe you’re just plain overwhelmed by how to get started!
In December, I attended a workshop session with author Seth Godin where he said, “If you're not using claude.ai, or maybe ChatGPT or Perplexity, for at least an hour a day, then you're already falling significantly behind.”
The bottom line is: AI won’t replace you, but if you fail to embrace AI, you will be surpassed by others who are embracing the power and potential of this technology. The possibilities of what AI can do for your work life are nearly limitless. From handling repetitive tasks to helping with content creation to improving the customer service experience with chatbots and complex automations.
THE FIX: If you’re overwhelmed at the prospect of getting started with AI, start small. Familiarize yourself with the basic tools such as ChatGPT and Claude. Once you experience the weight that AI can lift from your shoulders, you’ll wonder why you waited so long to lean into it.
So, if you’ve been feeling like your tech habits are running you instead of the other way around, now’s the time to take back control. Ditching these toxic habits isn’t just about freeing up time—it’s about creating a smarter, simpler, and more productive relationship with technology for 2025 and beyond.
Written by Sarah Baker
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