It’s noon and I’ve spent the last 3 hours in intense meetings, carefully curating my words so as to sound authoritative yet approachable. I’m emotionally drained and the day’s not yet half over.

Two options: (1) spend the rest of the day sounding like an impatient asshole, or (2) employ Brain Hack #1.

A while back, I learned that I could jump-start empathy by forcing myself to experience emotion. Melancholy, specifically. Here’s how it works:

I go for a 15-minute brisk walk or run, ideally outdoors. The fresh air and repetitive motion keep my body occupied and relaxed. Then, I listen to a playlist I’ve created with songs from my past. Some sad in subject matter or mood, others just nostalgic for one reason or another.

The playlist:

1. Iris - Goo Goo Dolls

2. Drive - Incubus

3. Everlong - Foo Fighters

4. Long December - Counting Crows

5. Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime - Beck

At the end, the dull ache of melancholy reminds me of my humanity, and that everyone probably experiences some flavor of this. Feeling human makes me a better leader.