How Stana Katic of "Absentia" Finds Inner (and Outer) Peace

Editor's Note: This is part of a new GoodHousekeeping.com series, Month of Me. In January, we're officially banning "should" (as in, "I should go on the treadmill," or "I should clean the garage") and encouraging you to give yourself a break after the holiday season. All month long, we'll be sharing personal essays and more inspiration to help you take time for yourself. Here, Stana Katic, who plays Special Agent Emily Byrne on Amazon Prime's Absentia, shares the many ways that she refuels her body so that she can successfully hunt down serial killers on TV.

On the benefits of nature:

Right now, I am growing a few sprouts of tomato plants and chard in a little terrarium. There's nothing better than home-grown, chemical-free fruits and vegetables. Working with the earth is peaceful for me. I even have an herb wall that makes for great picking when I need a relaxing dose of lemon verbena or mint tea.

On my passion for yoga:

I got introduced to yoga in drama school. It's now a mainstay in my life, ever since I got instructor certification at a teacher-training intensive. I even occasionally guide an intimate class of friends and family, but mostly the training was to serve and deepen my own practice.

Courtesy of Stana Katic

On the unifying power of food:

I would not say that I am an "aficionado" in this arena by any means; however, over the past few years, I have been studying the history of the cuisine of a small region in Dalmatia (my family hails from there). The experience has been almost like an archaeological/anthropological adventure. And, over time, I've found the wonderful connective power of cooking and sharing food. It can surpass many hardline differences like age, politics, and religion. So, now it's become a bit of a passion project that inspires me whenever I have a free moment.

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On the joy of pets:

My dog gives me such joy and makes me laugh incessantly. His quirky personality, his intelligence, his kindness, his spooky intuition, his fuzzy ears … and yes, he is literally the smartest, handsomest, most magnificent human on the planet (not biased at all).