Benjamin Franklin’s Daily Schedule

by James Furbush on March 17, 2011

Benjamin Franklin’s Daily Schedule is a remarkable effort in minimalism and organization. In fact, given what we know of Franklin and his prodigious talents and how he shaped his life around his “13 virtues,” this schedule isn’t all that surprising, now is it?

I especially enjoy the blocks of time (four hours!) at the end of the day devoted to “putting things in their place, supper, music, or diversions, or conversation; examination of the day.” Unfortunately, for me, that has devolved into drinking whiskey, cooking noodles and watching television from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. But you know, semantics.

Tagged as: Benjamin Franklin, schedules

  • marilynsue

    This was written years later as part of his Autobiography, looking back at his efforts to improve himself as a young man. You left out "only use venery [sex] for health, not recreation." When Franklin was in Passy, France, in the 1780s, John Adams reported his schedule as: sleep late, have a few visitors in the afternoon, then spend the evening socializing in the French salons, including playing chess with a naked woman in a bathtub.

  • Bingo Bills

    Franklin was a genius, a true polymath who excelled at everything he tried. It is a well known story that he was ambidextrous and could write in Latin with one hand while simultaneously write in Greek with the other hand. In attempting to emulate Benjamin Franklin I pledge to sleep late and play chess with a naked woman every day!

  • Dr S.

    I think "diversions" could be interpreted liberally….

    • http://www.bing.com/ Gytha

      TZJ5TW Thanks alot – your answer solved all my problems after several days strgguilng

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