The thought of starting on a journey to wellness can seem overwhelming and this often prevents people from ever getting going.

The truth of it is, once you start to make only small positive changes in your lifestyle, the effects will start to show over time. These small, seemingly insignificant changes stack up, they give you the slight edge, to put you on the upward curve to better health. You feel more well, your body feels like it is working better, you have higher energy levels, more self confidence and feel more whole physically and mentally. Your new habits then become your way of life and your motivation is the improvement in the way you feel. You are in a positive reinforcing loop.

Similarly habits that take up away from our health such as a bad diet, will likely not have an immediate effect but also stack up over time and lead us on the downward curve away from wellness.  This does not mean no to the occasional piece of cake, just not daily!

They key is in our daily habits, bringing our awareness to what we do repeatedly. Which health curve are they leading you on, upwards or downwards? Once we are more mindful of our habits, a useful question to ask yourself is ‘will doing this help me to reach my health goal or take me further away’? If the answer is the latter, take time to plan an alternative for next time.

A simple example could be taking the stairs instead of the lift or escalator to add some exercise into your day or having a glass of water rather than a sugar-based soda.

One thing is certain, if you keep doing what you have always done, you will get the results that you have always got. Many people take more care of their car than they do of their body, yet this is the place that we live 24/7, you only have one body and your body is you!

So take it a few small positive changes at a time and once those become habit, start to add in more. Here’s some ideas to pick from.

• Drink more water. Dehydration makes us tired, causes brain fog, constipation and can actually lead to low mood. We can also confuse dehydration with hunger, leading us to overeat when what we actually need is a glass of water. Keeping hydrated is a cheap and easy health hack.

• Breath using your diaphragm. Shallow breathing can lead to fatigue, brain fog, anxiety and poor circulation. Our cells need oxygen to function so use your breath to help your body work at its best.

• Regular exercise of 15 minutes or more per day will cause your body to release endorphins and bring you that feel-good response. This doesn’t necessarily mean joining a gym but could just be purely walking on one journey per day that you would normally drive. Take the stairs instead of a lift when you can.

• Eating a healthy diet will reduce the levels of stress on your body. Cook from scratch wherever possible and avoid snacking on unhealthy foods. Your body and mind will reap the rewards very quickly.

• Reduce the number of stimulants that you have. Caffeine can be positive when taken in moderation but limit to no more than one caffeinated drink per day, preferably in the morning so that your sleep pattern is not interrupted. Remember that there is caffeine in tea! Redbush/Rooibos tea is a fantastic decaffeinated alternative.

• Take time out for yourself. Just five minutes out of your day to sit quietly and catch up with your thoughts can be beneficial, 20 minutes is ideal. Sit upright, close your eyes and pay attention to your breathing. If thoughts come into your head, acknowledge them and then send them away. Some people find it useful to say a mantra that could simply be the word ‘one’.

• Say daily gratitudes of at least five things that you already have in your life for which you are grateful. Really feeling grateful for what you have will bring feelings of joy and change your overall energetic vibration. In this state you are more likely to attract in to your life more of what you desire and deserve.

• If you have a lot on your mind, write it down on paper in point form. This will help you to feel more organised and in control.

• Listen to music that you enjoy. This has been proven to increase Dopamine levels in the brain helping you to feel positive. Singing along will also go a long way to making your day a better one.

• Stretching first thing in the morning takes only minutes and will help to set you up for the day. Stretch the muscles in your face also.

• Laughter releases endorphins into the body, helping you to relax and feel good.

• Be curious. As we walk or drive along the same routes each day, it is easy to become blind to the beauty that is all around us. Slow down and take in your surroundings.