Tips for breaking in new hiking boots?

Er, this forum seems the most likely place to pose this question, but if there is a better place, let me know and I will start over.....

I just got a pair of hiking boots, pretty good quality I believe, fit nice, and I can tell I need to adjust to them or soften them.... would love a "blisterless" approach if anyone has one. I can feel just a little rub on my heel, but a half size smaller would be too small, so..... Any tricks for this? Or is it just a matter of wearing them til they soften up some? They actually feel quite good, just around the house....

This area I live in now sort of demands "serious shoes" and I am more used to living in sandals and flip flops, so...... gosh, everything is a learning curve, isn't it? ;-)

thanks in advance,
Kyla