Making any significant change in your life can be tough. After all, you’ve developed a habit of doing certain things in certain ways and now you want to change all that. It really is like throwing a wrench into all your plans.

Even though these changes carry great benefits, they can still be hard for us to make. If they were easy, then you wouldn’t see so many motivational speakers around the country giving pep talks and writing books.

We know that Rome wasn’t built in a day, so that’s why we’ve outlined a few easy steps that you can start taking this week. If you can’t do them all right now, that’s no problem. Take one or two a week and slowly begin to incorporate them into your lifestyle.

Replace Your Coffee With Apples and Water

We’ve all seen the mug “Don’t Talk to Me Until I’ve Had My Coffee” and for some people it’s definitely true! This doesn’t mean you have to ditch coffee forever, but changing up your routine can help.

Apples contain no caffeine, but do have plenty of natural sugar that is going to help give you a morning boost. According to Healthline, apples contain carbs, which can raise blood sugar levels. However, the fiber in apples helps stabilize blood sugar levels, in addition to providing other health benefits. Water is going to help boost your metabolism and give your brain a little kick-start. Try drinking about 16oz within 30 minutes of waking.

Take Breaks

Many people are tied to their computers for work and fall victim to being trapped in a sedentary lifestyle. There’s nothing wrong with sitting, but constantly sitting can be very bad for your health.

At work, try to make sure you’re taking frequent breaks. That doesn’t mean go hang out in the lobby for 15 minutes every hour, but maybe take the extra long walk to the bathroom or stand up during a phone call. Anything to stretch your legs out and move a little.

Easy Health Meal Plan

Sometimes, we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life. One thing that can always help us stay on track is effective planning. One of those ways is to plan your week so you avoid eating unhealthy foods.

You don’t have to follow a specific diet per se, but look at specific recipes. Healthy food doesn’t have to be bland, and there are tons of delicious options out there for you to try.

Have a Sleep Schedule

In college, you could stay up all night studying, ace three exams the next day, and still have enough energy to go out on a Friday night. It wasn’t a good idea at all, but plausible.

Sleep is incredibly important. It’s the time when your body recovers and rests. Make sure you’re getting 7-9 hours per night. Set a time each day when you go to sleep and so you know you’re fulfilling your sleep obligations.

Use Lotions

Besides drinking tons of water, lotions are one way to keep our skin hydrated and feeling soft. Even with your Mr. and Ms. Tan Skin, you should still be using sunscreen no matter what.

Also, make use of body or face lotion part of your daily routine. The best time to do it is when you’re out of the shower, as your skin is more likely to absorb the lotion and hydrate your skin. Start with just your face and hands to make it easy.

Exercise Every Day For Easy Health

Now this is often a barrier for most people because they feel like they don’t have time, or they don’t like exercising. Exercise doesn’t have to be running 10 miles a day or lifting weights till your arms fall off.

The whole idea is to get your body moving. That could be taking your dog to the park every day, walking up and down the stairs at work, or playing racquet ball. Find your activities and keep your body moving.

Go Easy On Yourself

This piece of advice could apply to your work life or even these health changes. Here’s a spoiler alert: you’re going to mess up and you’re going to have rough days.

Having a rough day doesn’t mean you’re a failure or it’s time to give up. Michael Jordan, the greatest basketball player ever, missed the game winning shot nearly 30 times in his career. Remember that you’re not a robot and it’s OK if you have hiccups. Just focus on the next day and go get ‘em!