Genius Healthy Living Advice: Whether It's Yoga, Cooking or Knitting--Practice Something

I wanted to share a little nugget of healthy living wisdom with you that really hit home for me. It's this simple little advice that I think has big life payoffs...

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Kate Hanley over at Crazy Sexy Life wrote about the value of practicing something. "I define practice as 'what you do with regularity, even when you don't feel like doing anything else,'" she writes. "I firmly believe that incorporating some sort of practice, or activity, into your normal routine--whether it's yoga, running, knitting, cooking, walking, drawing, cleaning, or anything else you can absorb yourself in--is one the best ways (if not the best way) to help you feel a little calmer, a little clearer, more able to deal with whatever life brings."

Need help figuring out just what you should "practice"? Here are her tips:

What makes you feel better? "Is there something you do that always makes you feel better--even just a little bit? It could be something formal, like a yoga class, or something you do on your own, like gardening or knitting. Anything that makes you feel more relaxed is a great candidate."

What's calling to you? "If you can't think of anything you've already tried that's a good practice candidate, is there something you've always told yourself you'll do when you've got a little more time, money, or moxie? Anything that's been making your ears perk up when you hear it mentioned in conversation? If it's something you don't know how to do yet, start by just familiarizing yourself with it. You don't need to be a master--that's why they call it practice."

What can you feasibly fit into your regular life? "You may feel at one with the world on the ski slopes, but if you only get to go skiing once a year, it ain't a practice. You don't have to do something every single day, but you want to be able to do whatever it is that soothes your soul on more days than not."

My list of practices: yoga, running (though it's aspirational at this point), cooking, gardening and (don't laugh) bird watching--I'm a total nut for spotting birds.

Tell me what you practice (or what you want to practice)!