There are many ways we can adjust our homes to live healthier, happier lives. Some are bigger commitments while others are small, everyday changes that can help brighten your day one step at a time. Take a look at the following suggestions and try incorporating a few of these changes every day.

Wake up your morning routine

Take a minute to evaluate your morning schedule. Do you abuse the snooze button every Monday morning? Are you sick and tired of feeling sick and tired? Does the mad rush out the door mean you have to skip breakfast? Focus on the five-minute changes you can make to impact your daily lifestyle.

Consider moving your alarm clock across the room. This will force you to physically get out of bed to turn it off. This kick starts your day and gets you moving sooner rather than hitting the snooze button for the umpteenth time. After all, a mad morning rush out the door is no way to start the day.

Additionally, you can create a morning ritual with a short list of things to do for yourself. Starting the day with some self-care gives you a motivational sense of productivity before you even leave the house for work. Making a cup of tea, reading the news, stepping outside on the dewy morning grass, or moisturizing after a slightly longer than usual shower are all small acts of self-care that have a positive effect on our day as soon as it begins.

Add meaningful tasks to your morning routine, such as five minutes of meditation, a quick fitness video, a long stretch or warming yoga flow. Simply making time for a sit-down, healthy breakfast is also an excellent way to start the day, which brings us to our next point.

Make time for breakfast

We all know breakfast is the most important meal of the day, yet so many of us neglect taking the proper time for it. Grabbing something quick on the way to work has become a bad habit for a lot of us. Unfortunately, the mission to beat the usual traffic jam or a goal get to work five minutes earlier is motivation enough for us to skip breakfast altogether.

Here are three ways to get out of the granola bar rut you’ve been in for so long:

• Buy a beautiful mixing bowl or serving plate and set it out the night before to encourage yourself to make time for a hot breakfast straight off the griddle.
• Find some new recipes that incorporate the necessary nutrient-combo and challenge yourself to make one new recipe a week. Look at your leftovers and ingredients that are approaching their expiration date for some inspiration that will help you reduce food waste.
• Avoid sugar and, if you are in a hurry, eat fruit, cheese or toast for a quick breakfast. This is a powerful combo of protein and carbohydrates that can help kick start your day right.

If it’s broken, fix it

The physical environment of our homes directly impacts our health and happiness. Flickering lights, a leaking faucet, or a squeaking ceiling fan is the last thing you want to come home to after a long day’s work. Malfunctioning elements can make any bad day that much worse. To avoid this, home systems need routine maintenance and should be checked on a regular basis.

Here’s a honey-do-list you can check off to keep your home—and mood—up and running.

• Embrace smart home technology. Install a smart thermostat to adjust to your daily routine. There are also digital devices that will detect and notify you of excess water from a sump pump, a bursted pipe, or a roof leak. Home automation saves you money on utility bills, reduces your environmental footprint, and alleviates unnecessary stress.
• Check HVAC and refrigerator filters and replace them as they age. Dirty filters affect the air and water quality that we consume everyday. You should check the humidity levels in your house as well. Less than 30% humidity could help viruses persist, which may be the cause of your lingering cough. Your body will thank you for completing this quick and dirty punch list by feeling significantly better.
• Don’t put off home repairs. It can add undue stress and lead to costly repairs in the future. If you aren’t handy, hire a licensed home contractor to help or sign up for home repair insurance. The best home warranty companies cover home appliances and systems and they’ll assign a qualified professional for you—saving you time, energy, money, and stress.

Declutter your space

Some research suggests that decluttering can have as much of an effect on your well-being as it does on your physical space. You don’t have to implement the Marie Kondo method on everything to feel the benefits.

First, set aside 10 to 15 minutes at the end of the day to put away stray items. Watching TV? Use commercial time to clear your computer desktop and organize your email inbox. Pencil in some time this weekend to box up extra items, like the shirt you haven’t worn in three months, and store them. You can swap items out when you need a refresh, and if you find you don’t miss the boxed items, donate them.

Go back to the basics

Revisiting some basic practices we were taught as children can be powerful, even in their simplicity. Often these are small changes we can add into our lives that make large, lasting impacts on our happiness and can even impact other routines and habits in our lives.

Make your bed every morning. It seems so simple, yet it can establish a sense of calm and establish a positive routine to start your day.

Call your mom every day. Or another family member or dear friend. It will help you feel more connected and cheer your mood.

Sit a little straighter. Improving your posture can not only make you physically feel better, but it can also boost confidence.

Listen closely. Tune into your life’s natural soundtrack. Don’t immediately hush your dog when it tries to wake you up way too early. Tolerate in the espresso machine whirring to life first thing in the morning—no matter how startlingly loud it can be at 7 a.m. Amuse your children by playing along with their imaginary games. Be as present as possible when your partner speaks. Hang onto their every word. Try to decipher each raindrop that falls on a stormy night until you drift asleep.

Making some of these seemingly small changes and at-home habits can help you lead a happier, healthier life.