The Simplicity of Benjamin Franklin’s Daily Schedule
Check out this copy of Benjamin Franklin’s daily schedule. I love how open and simple it is…
Though his schedule had structure and routine, it was also very forgiving to all the nuances and variables that each day’s unique tasks and priorities bring.
He had only six blocks of time scheduled each day:
- Getting ready for the day: shower, breakfast, personal study, and prepare for work (3 hours)
- Morning work (4 hours)
- Review of current projects and to eat lunch (2 hours)
- Afternoon work (4 hours)
- Dinner and rest and wrapping up the day (4 hours)
- Sleep (7 hours)
So simple, yet still structured and helpful.
From time to time I take a look at my own routine to make sure it’s serving me well.
Having a daily routine helps ensure that the minutes don’t get away from you. It helps you avoid squandering your time.
Many people kick against the idea of structure or routine or a schedule. I certainly used to. But in truth, a routine like Ben Franklin’s is extremely empowering — it’s actually liberating.
I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again:
There’s no good reason a creative person should live without any sort of routine, discipline, or accountability.
There is this big myth that creativity cannot be harnessed. That’s silliness.
Sure, inspiration often will come when we least expect it, and so by all means, let us allow exceptions to our schedules. But sitting around being idle while in wait for inspiration is a good way to get nothing done. And worse, it is also a way to let the creative juices get stagnant.
You will do your best work when you’ve found a way to live within constraint. Moreover, you’ll also find that it removes much of the stress between your work life and personal life.
The secret to all of this is found in your daily routines and habits.
And I’d love to teach you more about how to build habits that line up with what matters to you (in every area of life)…
The Fundamentals of Focus
On August 2, I’m hosting a free, live workshop. You should check it out.
At This Free Workshop, You’ll Discover…
- Are your habits and routines moving you in the right direction? And if not, what to do about it.
- Why most people struggle to balance all the areas of their life.
- The framework I use to keep my work and life in balance.
- The biggest productivity misunderstanding out there.
These are all the foundational ideas lifted right from my flagship product, The Focus Course.
What: A one-hour workshop (hosted online)
When: Wednesday August 2, at 2pm Eastern
If you can’t make it live, no problem! We will be recording this workshop and making a replay available. So even if you can’t make it to the live event, you should still RSVP below and we’ll send you the replay video for you to watch on your own time.
RSVP to the Workshop here…