Let’s face it.

Personal happiness and a healthy body take a lot of work, and it can be difficult just knowing where to start.

But that doesn’t mean our well-being has to suffer, as there are simple, effective ways to start improving your life today without paying for an elaborate vacation or buying exercise equipment.

5. Drink Water at the Right Time

We all know that drinking water is one of the best things we can do for our bodies, but did you know that there are times in the day that are best for drinking water? Drinking water after waking up literally refreshes your body, cleansing it of toxins accumulated during sleep. You should also drink water right before you go to sleep to replenish the water your body has lost throughout the day.

Another key time to drink water is right before each meal. One of the obvious benefits is that you will feel more “full,” preventing you from overeating. Also, doing this actually helps with digestion and gives you more energy from your food.

You should also be sure to drink water before and after you workout and with each snack. Consult this extensive list for even more tips on drinking water at the right time.

4. Declutter Your Home One Room at a Time

Organizing your home can be a daunting task, but the reward is significant. This cathartic exercise gives you more space to live in and is also a healthy exercise for your mind.

Today, you can go through just one room in your house and re-organize it, disposing of clutter that you no longer need. Routinely letting go of inessentials is a healthy habit, and donating your items will no doubt benefit someone else. Stick with this exercise and you’ll find yourself consistently maintaining a well-organized home with breathing room.

3. Update Your Budget

If you don’t have a budget yet, simply (and honestly) track how much money you’ve spent in one week for a given expense. You can pick a general expense like food and fuel, or you can pick something specific like coffee. Look at how much you’re spending on this expense and reduce it by 10-20%.

For some, this will require some frugality and self-sacrifice, but there is great value in scaling back your budget. For one thing, you can put that extra money in savings, which will hep reduce stress, and having a wider safety net may also prevent anxiety and worry.

If you’re really feeling ambitious, you could even cut multiple expenses and direct them towards paying debts or saving for education.

The numbers don’t lie: Let’s say you’re spending $10 a day so that you can go out to lunch. Just during the week, that’s $50. If you decide to pack lunch and only go out once, you may find yourself saving up to $30 a week, which would give you an extra $120 a month. Getting on a path to more financial freedom can be that simple, and it may not be long before you stop missing that $10 lunch.

2. Multi-task While Watching Television

At the end of the day, most of us just want to relax and enjoy some great entertainment. This should certainly be done, but why not throw some tedious tasks in with the fun? For example, how many unread emails litter your inbox right now? Sorting email while watching TV is a simple way to get something done without a mental workout.

Other mindless tasks you can knock out include reviewing your bills, checking your bank statement, organizing your wallet or purse, or even counting your calories.

1. Read

Even reading for entertainment is a productive use of your time, and this is especially important for anyone who is glued to a screen all day already. Take every opportunity to read, as it improves your spelling, grammar and vocabulary. If you find yourself watching TV, at least turn on the close captioning! Little things like subtitles can help you learn more words and keep your mind healthy each day, even when we just want to empty our minds sometimes.

If you already read routinely, consider changing things up. Go read in a coffee shop or out in nature. Foster your creativity by being creative!