I did this piece back in my magazine writing days for Better Homes & Gardens. It was my big break into the major women’s publications and I’ve had this thing framed and mounted alongside my college diploma. Read, and take it to heart.

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Making some simple design and lifestyle changes at home can lead to a healthier heart. Here are our top tips — all doable in just minutes.

Entryway: Add Tennis Shoes

Keep sneakers by your front door so they’re handy for exercising. Staying active is essential to good heart health. A recent study of more than 27,000 women enrolled in the Women’s Health Study found that those who exercised the most were 40 percent less likely to have a heart attack or stroke than those who exercised the least.

Entryway: Keep Count

Hang a pedometer on a hook by the door and clip it to your waistband every morning — it’s an inexpensive way to track how many steps you take throughout the day. For maximum health benefits, aim to walk 10,000 steps a day. If you fall short of that goal, increase your average daily steps by about 500 until you get to that point.