When a team of researchers analyzed over 1,100 parole board decisions and the factors that led to an unsuccessful appeal, one factor stood out.

It wasn’t the background or past criminal history of the applicant. Instead, it was the time of day the hearing took place.

Parole applicants appearing at 8:50 am were the most likely to be granted parole and rulings became harsher toward the end of the day.

This can be explained, according to the research, by decision fatigue.

It used to be the case that mindfulness meditation was seen as an esoteric practice that few people in the western world took seriously. Though over the last decade, a mindfulness revolution has taken place. Meditation is now a mainstream practice with years of scientific research backing its efficacy in a wide range of domains.

With studies showing mindfulness can assist in improving cognition, focus, creativity as well as emotional and physiological regulation, developing a mindfulness practice is a must for anybody looking at reaching and maintaining peak performance. And indeed, everybody from artists to athletes are touting the benefits of mindfulness practice, but with the increasing pressures that are par for the course in modern leadership positions, mindfulness is especially important for leaders.