Leonardo da Vinci's daily routine was a unique and effective way of maximizing productivity.
With only two hours of sleep daily, in 20-minute intervals, da Vinci achieved greatness in multiple fields. He was a painter, inventor, scientist, and much more.
Not only was his sleep schedule unconventional, but he also had a structured diet and habits that helped him maintain high productivity.
Inside a day in the life of Leonardo da Vinci
Key takeaways
- Da Vinci slept for 20 minutes every 4 hours, for 2 hours a day.
- He had a structured diet rich in water, fiber, and vegetables and low in fat, sugar, and salt.
- He combined his sleep schedule with habits like journaling, self-affirmation, and athleticism.
Mornings
Leonardo started his day with self-affirmation, writing positive statements in his journal to boost his confidence. He also took care of his body through exercise and a structured diet. On markwwollacot.com, Mark noted that Da Vinci convinced himself of his self-worth by jotting down positive affirmations, including: “I shall continue” and “obstacles do not bend me.”
He understood the human body, so he took his own very seriously, realizing that a healthy and fit body resulted in greater mental power and increased ability to create.
To this end, he created The da Vinci diet, which, in effect, meant that he would eat a fresh, fiber-rich, water-dense, vegetarian diet with minimal fat, salt, and sugar every day.
Afternoons
This genius’ extensive range of interests leads to a theory about why Leonardo divided his day into four-hour blocks with 20-minute naps. This possibly allowed him to allocate parts of the day to all the different areas and interests he subscribed to.
This quote attributable to da Vinci encapsulates his philosophy in life: “The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding.”
Evenings
Da Vinci may have had a longish stretch of sleep at night as it seems improbable that he could have sustained himself on only two hours of sleep a day.
However, da Vinci’s routine was a unique and effective way of maximizing productivity. He achieved greatness in multiple fields by combining his sleep schedule with structured habits and diet. This routine worked, as it is impossible to think of a more accomplished human in history.
