It’s the new year and many are thinking about being healthier. You can start your journey at home and continue it in the workplace. To help you bring healthy behavior into the workplace, the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association have created a Healthy Workplace Food and Beverage Toolkit.

I find that when I am working on a healthier me, it is easier to accomplish my goals if I work with a team. It is important to have a support team in place. Your team can be made up of friends, family and co-workers.

Back in the early ‘90s, I worked for a manufacturing company that had a medical facility on-site. I was able to go to the clinic before work, on break or after work. It had staff available who encouraged and assisted employees with their goals. I weighed in whenever I wanted to.

If your workplace doesn’t have a clinic on-site, talk with your human resources department about what options are available to you. Many times, if there is not a clinic on-site they can send you to a different clinic and many insurance plans cover the cost.

It is in the best interest of the company to keep its employees healthy. I was lucky enough that my mother worked at the same company, so we worked out together, weighed in together and got healthier together.

This company I worked for offered a gym membership for their employees. We were not fortunate enough to have a gym-inspired workstation, but technology has come a long way since the nineties. If your workplace doesn’t have either, you can still do exercises while at work.

Many of my friends are nurses and work at the local hospital. Instead of using the elevator they take the stairs. My friend Lisa Scott works for a community college and walks outside during her breaks. Lisa walks at least six miles a day.

She encourages me by sharing healthy recipes and keeping me accountable for my actions. Even though she is all the way in Canada and I am in the United States, Lisa and I use a calorie counting app that links us together.

You really can have anyone in your support team whether they are in the next country or the next cubicle. And while bringing healthy snacks to work is beneficial, would be even better is if your company would replace all junk food with healthier choices like fruit, granola bars and nuts.

As I was saying before you can combine your healthy lifestyle at home with your workplace. A great way to save time is to order from Hello Fresh. If you read my article about the future of grocery shopping, I talked about how Hello Fresh delivers meals to your home with healthy recipes that can be made in thirty minutes.

Healthy eating starts with a healthy plan. Just like you set goals at work, you can set goals for your health as well. If you reach a goal at work, you receive a reward. Therefore, make sure you reward yourself when you reach your healthy goal; a special trip to the spa, a new pair of jeans, or a trip to the salon.

I know when we say “healthy” we think eating right, exercising, and sleep, but a positive attitude is just as important; especially in these times. A little smile and a little kindness goes a long way.

Be the one who listens, inspires and leads. You will increase your productivity, your quality of life and those of your colleagues. If your company does not already offer it be the leader, they are looking for.

Say, for example, if you have an upcoming meeting, be the person who leads the team in stretches and movement exercises. Walking meetings are another way to combine work and get healthy.

By using today’s technology, following healthy guidelines and referring to the American Heart and Stroke Associations toolkit you can reach your goals! Happy New Year, everyone!