If you want to improve your heart health, today is a great day to start. And it doesn’t have to take much time.

In fact, spending 20 minutes or less on heart-healthy activities each day can play a significant role in reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. Take a brisk walk. 

Get your heart pumping by taking a brisk walk around the block. Don’t have 20 minutes? Break your walk into two 10-minute sessions. Do this every day and you will log 140 of the 150 minutes of recommended weekly cardiovascular activity for optimal heart health.

2. Prep meals and snacks. 

Set aside 20 minutes today to cut up veggies or put out some healthy snacks — nuts, Greek yogurt, or hard-boiled eggs. This will keep you from reaching for less healthy options when you feel hungry between meals.

3. Try heart-healthy recipes. 

Take a few minutes out of your day and plan a week's worth of heart-healthy meals. Planning ahead makes shopping easier and more efficient. Check out some different cuisines such as Mediterranean, Indian or Asian for vegetarian or other healthy options.

4. Check your blood pressure. 

Set aside a few minutes to check your blood pressure using an at-home monitor. Routine monitoring can help you monitor your numbers and alert your doctor if they are consistently high.

5. Meditate. 

In just a few minutes, meditation can help calm your mind and heart by reducing your stress and anxiety.