The One Thing The CEO Of Whole Foods Market Does When He's Having "One Of Those Days"

Listen, we all have bad days. Even John Mackey, the co-founder and CEO of Whole Foods Market and author of Conscious Leadership, can feel burnt out at times. However, Mackey has perfected a little trick over the years whenever he starts to feel overwhelmed: All it takes is a pinch of self-awareness. 

"A bad day is almost the definition of going unconscious," he shares on the mindbodygreen podcast. "You're going into a reactive state; you're no longer in the moment; you've gotten angry, fearful, and you're no longer fully awake."

"I set my watch to beep every hour," he says. "Then I will spend 30 to 60 seconds centering myself, breathing, doing mindful meditation, and being fully aware in the moment."

That's it—who says mindfulness has to be time-consuming? In fact, taking these micro-moments throughout the day to center yourself can sometimes be even more helpful than a full-blown meditation—especially if you find it difficult to sit still. 

Although it's simple, it does take some practice to master. "Like any skill, you get better the more you practice," Mackey notes. "I do still emotionally react, but I'm not unconscious as long as I used to be." Meaning, he can catch himself before the emotions get the best of him, and he can quickly snap out of the funk.