Be a Good Man: Live Your Day According to Benjamin Franklin’s Schedule for Success

Before cloud-based calendars and syncing to-do apps, Benjamin Franklin created his own schedule to stay productive, and continue to seek improvement in all areas of his life. In his 1791 autobiography, Franklin published his daily routine. It begins with his famous “What good shall I do today?” examination, and then a balanced take on work, recreation, and self-improvement. It was, of course, published after his common-law wife had died and once his children had grown (he had three), so there’s not and inclusion for family, but it certainly accounts for social time spent with ones to whom he was close, in addition to the goal-setting and personal evaluation. 

Here’s the schedule in full:

The Know blogger Tim Goessling tried out Franklin’s schedule, and his (admittedly hyperbolic) headline of the result reads, “I Lived a Day According to Ben Franklin’s Schedule and It Changed My Life.” Check out his experience here, and let us know if you’ve ever tried something similar. Are you a scheduler? Listmaker?

I Lived a Day According to Ben Franklin’s Schedule and It Changed My Life [The Know]