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Benjamin Franklin, a visionary entrepreneur and leader, excelled as a writer, scientist, statesman, diplomat, publisher, and philosopher.
How did he manage it all so effortlessly?
That too without a fail!
The secret? Mastering a daily routine with self-discipline!
His daily routine was not just about productivity—Benjamin structured it as a path to moral perfection.
This features waking up early, engaging in in-depth work, eating healthy, and practising self-reflection.
Benjamin’s routine followed a cyclical method, gradually reducing errors until they became a habit.
Ever thought of starting each day with a clear plan and purpose?
Let’s understand the breakdown of Benjamin Franklin’s daily routine and learn how you can apply it to improve your habits, sharpen your discipline, and achieve personal excellence.
Benjamin Franklin’s Morning Routine
05:00 AM
Wake up Naturally
Benjamin used to wake up at 5 am without using any Alarm.
As per Franklin “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”
Lots of millionaires and billionaires still follow this quote as a daily routine principle.
Morning Self-Reflection: High-performance people like Franklin believed in self-reflection. He used to question himself about the day’s priority and synced accordingly.
Walk & Stretch: Always preferred morning walks followed by a little body movement while addressing physical readiness.
Morning Journal: Used to practice gratitude in his Notebook.
Benefits Observed by Benjamin
- Improved clarity and set daily intentions.
- Self-reflection and learning from previous experiences.
- Inspires positive thinking and prioritizing goals.
“The early morning has gold in its mouth.”
Benjamin Franklin
05:30 AM
Morning Prayer
Daily 10 to 15 minutes to pray and meditate.
“Usually, in meditation, he used to practise breathing exercises.”
He highlighted this as “Rise, wash and address Powerful Goodness.”
“Prayers and Provender hinder no Journey.”
Benjamin Franklin
06:00 AM
Morning Shower
Shower: Benjamin preferred to take a morning shower right after his important practice.
Air Bath: With regular showers, he often used to practise air bath. This involves sitting without clothes for min. 30 minutes.
According to Benjamin Franklin, exposing his skin to fresh air through air baths improved both his physical and mental health.
Note: It doesn’t necessarily need cold air. You should focus on clean and moving air.
“I sit in my chamber without any clothes for 30 minutes or an hour, according to the season, either reading or writing.”
Benefits Observed by Benjamin Franklin
- Improved his skin breathing – allowing the skin to “breathe” well.
- Strengthened his immunity levels.
- Change in mental clarity.
- Promoted Benjamin’s hygiene levels.
06:30 AM
Day Planning
Franklin’s daily schedule included dedicated planning, where he allocated each day to a specific activity, such as writing, business, research, meetings, and much more.
He often began with the reflective question, “What good shall I do this day?”
“He believed that planned daily routine helped him avoid wasting time and reduce stress levels between work and personal life.”
07:30 AM
Breakfast Routine
Benjamin often combined eating with reading or studying, using every moment wisely.
Nutritious with Carbs: He used to consume a bowl of bread with milk, potatoes, rice, and fish.
Healthy Additions: Benjamin’s breakfast also included an Apple, Yogurt, and Granola. He particularly enjoyed Yogurt, which is made from sheep’s milk.
08:00 AM
Work Routine
Depending on the schedule, Benjamin typically worked 3 to 4 hours each morning.
As he said, “Never leave for tomorrow which you can do today.”
Ongoing Projects: Reviewing current projects, assessing needs, and establishing timelines.
Office Work: Overseeing printing, research, and writing work.
Research & Innovations: Being an inventor, he used to manage several projects for physics, scientific research, music, and much more.
Along with personal tasks, he also handled public duties such as city administrator & education initiatives.
“It is the working man who is the happy man. It is the idle man who is the miserable man.”
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin’s Afternoon Routine
12:00 PM
Lunch Routine
He preferred reading books and overlooking accounts while enjoying his lunch.
Nutritious Meal: Benjamin Franklin favoured simple and healthy meals. He enjoyed American dishes such as maple syrup, Indian corn, and potatoes.
- Turkey: Franklin often praised Turkey as a favourite food for its taste and nutritional value, and encouraged Americans to include it in their lunch.
- Cranberries: Consumed daily as a part of his routine.
- Apples: 1-2 Apples per day.
- Tofu: Consumed regularly for essential nutrition.
Other Foods:
- Maple syrup
- Indian corn
- Potatoes
- Pickles
- Ice cream
- Milk
Day Reflection: He spent time reading additional journals and magazines, enjoying relaxation and writing to expand his knowledge and perspective.
02:00 PM
Work
Benjamin continued his afternoon work hours until 6 pm.
Business & Execution: He remained focused on ongoing tasks and commitments.
He ensured that the time spent on work was proportional to the outcomes achieved.
As Benjamin said:
“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.”
Benjamin Franklin
FYI: Benjamin also worked as a Printer, Publisher, Author, Inventor, Scientist, and Diplomat. He tried multiple things in life and excelled in each of them, serving as a lesson for those who remain in one job and miss out on the thrill of diverse experiences.
According to his Autobiography, Benjamin Franklin also encouraged everyone to follow their passion and avoid settling into their comfort zones.
Benjamin Franklin’s Evening Routine
06:00 PM
Benjamin enjoyed his evening in mental reflection and leisure activities.
Workspace Arrangements: He used to organize his belongings, arrange his table and books, ensuring everything was in order to start the next day efficiently without wasting time.
Dinner: Similar to lunch, Benjamin ate a nutrition-rich meal which was often followed by a communal activity or a time for engaging discussions.
Journaling & Planning: At the end of each day, he reviewed his progress and reflected by asking, “What good have I done today?”
Leisure Activities: Time to engage in more conversation, music, or light reading.
09:45 AM
Day Examination
As part of his daily routine, Benjamin would review all his activities and ask a simple question “What good have I done today?”
This practice not only helped him optimise his work and identify mistakes but also allowed him to examine progress for a more virtuous life.
10:00 PM
Sleep Routine
It’s time to rest and revenue energies.
Benjamin valued uninterrupted sleep, which is why he enjoyed 7 hours of sleep between 10 to 5 am.
According to Benjamin, good sleep was important for maintaining his sharpness and vigour.
Recommend Products FOR Better Sleep
In addition, he believed in the benefits of fresh air at night and slept with the window open.
Franklin’s Views on Scheduled Life and Routine
- The Virtue of Time Management: Franklin also believed & reflected in making the most of every hour. His daily schedule emphasized that “lost time is never found again.”
- Moral and Intellectual Self-Improvement: Benjamin’s daily habits reflected a commitment to developing virtues and improving them through regular practice.
- Balance Between Work and Personal Growth: According to Franklin, one should prioritise not only professional tasks but also enjoy learning, and leisure.
- Flexibility with Purpose: While Franklin was known for strict discipline, He also recognized that a schedule should support goals, not constrain creativity or productivity.
Learnings from Benjamin Franklin’s Daily Routine
- Focus on organising with discipline.
- Following a daily timetable is ideal but it’s ok if you fail to follow someday.
- Even high-performance or great thinkers also struggle with strict self-discipline as practice. You should think about daily practice vs ideal routine.
- Don’t ignore rest over work. Benjamin demonstrated a good understanding of recovery and well-being.
- Your self-improvement routine requires a structured plan but it should offer flexibility.
- Follow a routine tracking progress mechanism. Earlier, people used notes or a calendar system but now you can utilise any Routine app or website.
- You should be aware that not all goals are equally attainable; some may require more effort, time, and persistence.
- Do experiment with daily habits. This leads to unexpected benefits.
Example: Benjamin adopted the practice of air baths for wellness and observed positive changes.
- Persistence is directly proportional to routine discipline.
- Ask yourself questions like – What good shall I do this day & What good have I done this day?
Work in Sprints!
- 15-minute teak, coffee break or walk.
- Back to 60 minutes of deep focus work.
- 15-minute teak, coffee break or walk
Related Routines 👀
Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Virtues Followed in Daily Routine
- Temperance: Always eat and drink in moderation
- Silence: Speak only when it benefits others or yourself
- Order: Keep things in their place and plan your time
- Resolution: Stick to your commitments
- Frugality: Spend wisely
- Industry: Avoid wasting your time
- Sincerity: Speak truthfully
- Justice: Do what is fair and right
- Moderation: Avoid extremes
- Cleanliness: Maintain cleanliness in the body and surroundings
- Tranquility: Stay calm in adversity
- Chastity: Use self-restraint
- Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates
FAQs
Did Franklin use any specific time management technique?
Yes, he used to divide his day into time blocks (usually 5-6), assigning specific hours to different tasks. Franklin also emphasized tracking progress and self-reflection using a calendar or notes. This helped him refine his habits and stay accountable.
How did Franklin’s routine contribute to his success?
Benjamin’s disciplined routine helped him to stay focused, avoid distractions, improve self-discipline, maximize personal learning, and better well-being.
How can you apply Franklin’s routine?
Start with small habits such as waking up early. Learn time-blocking practice for different tasks with progress. You can also include morning or evening journal or reading habits.
Did he use meditation in the morning?
Yes, he practised a form of meditation by reflecting on virtues and setting his daily intentions.
Did Franklin exercise in the morning?
No, he didn’t follow any workout routine. However, he used to walk in the morning.
What was Franklin’s most important habit?
He used self-reflection and tracking his daily goals.
How much time did Franklin spend planning his day?
He used to spend around 30 minutes each day in the morning to plan day activities with priorities.
What types of books did Franklin read in the morning?
Benjamin Franklin read different philosophy, science, history, and self-improvement books. He also studied languages, politics, and ethics. Franklin saw books as tools for success, and he encouraged people to read broadly to expand their knowledge.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/benjamin-franklin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/autobiography-of-benjamin-franklin
