10 things you can do today to start a healthier lifestyle.

Sometimes the thoughts of embarking on a healthy lifestyle can be overwhelming. There is so much knowledge available to us that our brains can be become overloaded. Slow down and keep it simple. Here are 10 things that you can incorporate into your day today that will help you begin your healthier and happier lifestyle.

1. Set your mind to it - with almost everything in life we do, it is mind over matter. The first thing to do today is to make the decision to change. Once you can set your mind to it, there will be no stopping you.

2. No negative self-talk - today you will speak to yourself like you are your own best friend. Accept where you are and be grateful for the ability to make a positive change. No point beating yourself up over past choices. Be your own cheerleader.

3. Eat vegetables - make a point to strive for 5 portions of vegetables today. No need to go crazy, just pick 5 vegetables that you are familiar with and enjoy and start from there.

4. Don't skip meals - aim for a goal of 3 square meals today. If we eat too much, we gain weight. If we don't eat enough, we gain weight. Starvation is not a healthy eating plan so aim for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

5. Get active - go for a 20 minute walk, use the stairs rather than the lift, get vigorous with the hoover or pick 5 exercises and try to achieve a minute each for 3 rounds.

6. Make a list - list all the reasons why making a positive change will benefit you. Also list the cons if you can think of any! It will reinforce to your brain why these changes are good for you.

7. Drink water - avoid all the empty calories in sugary drinks. Set a goal today to up your water intake. For some this is a hard transition but water is the best ammo in your arsenal for a healthier lifestyle. Water helps rid your body of toxins and dehydration can often mask itself as hunger leading to overeating.

8. Cut down on processed food - aim to have little or no processed food in your diet today. Processed food is full of chemicals that we can't even pronounce and often lack the nutrition of real food that fuels our body. They are often calorie dense adding to the wiggle of your muffin top!

9. Do what makes you feel good - do something today that makes you feel good. Put your make-up on, enjoy your favourite comedy, catch up with a friend, or give yourself a manicure. Make the effort today to do one thing that makes you feel good.

10. Sleep - We are chronically sleep deprived. Late nights and early mornings can cause havoc with a healthy lifestyle. Have an early night tonight. Have a nice hot shower, put clean sheets on the bed and turn off the phone. Give yourself a decent rest. We can cope with anything when we have had a good night's sleep.

There always little changes we can make to our daily lives that over time will create big results. Even if you make one change a day to support your new lifestyle that is 7 changes over the course of a week. What one will you make today?