Benjamin Franklin was not just one of America's founding fathers but also an accomplished inventor, publisher, and businessman. It's no secret that his success in life was partly due to his daily routine. He was a man who was organized and took the time to structure his days, which allowed him to be productive, focused, and always ahead of the curve.
Franklin's daily routine was built around maximizing his time and energy, but he wasn't strict about it. He allowed himself to be flexible, so he could adjust his schedule as needed. Nevertheless, his routine was both consistent and productive.
He was a productivity master, which likely allowed him to juggle various roles and tasks, including writer, printer, politician, entrepreneur, scientist, inventor, diplomat, and postmaster.
In his autobiography, Benjamin Franklin shared his daily routine, and Stephanie Vozza writing for FastCompany.com, noted that he asked himself every morning, “What good shall I do this day?” And he ended the day by asking himself, “What good have I done today?” The answers to these questions will determine the path your life takes.
Inside a day in the life of Benjamin Franklin
Key takeaways
- Benjamin Franklin was a well-organized man who took the time to structure his days.
- He was productive, focused, and always ahead of the curve.
- Franklin’s daily routine was built around maximizing his time and energy.
- He allowed himself to be flexible, so he could adjust his schedule as needed.
Mornings
Franklin was a morning person and a creature of habit. He got up at 4 a.m. every day, worked a set number of hours, and then went to bed at the same time every night.
From 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., he would get up, wash and address "Powerful Goodness," make his daily resolution and have breakfast. From 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., he would work. His schedule included a prep period in the morning.
Afternoons
From 12 to 1 p.m., he overlooked “my accounts” and would have lunch, then work on his projects that would affect his governor’s work. He worked on his projects in two four-hour bursts until precisely 5 p.m. Franklin once wrote, “Lost time is never found again.” However, he was known to take breaks during this time, which allowed him to recharge and refocus.
Evenings
The busy founding father and Governor of Pennsylvania would “put things in their places,” dine, listen to music, indulge in some other diversion, and reflect on what he had accomplished that day.
Bedtime was 10 a.m. sharp. He got six hours of sleep daily, which was enough to rejuvenate him for the next day’s tasks.
