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Famous lists · No. 6

Benjamin Franklin blocked time every evening for “diversion.”

Benjamin Franklin was busier than you: inventor, printer, writer, diplomat and Founding Father. Yet in his autobiography he described a daily schedule that is surprisingly calm. It starts with a question, has two blocks of work, and ends with music, conversation and a look back at the day.

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From his autobiography

The morning question: What good shall I do this day?

  1. 5 – 8  Rise, wash, and address Powerful Goodness! Contrive day's business, and take the resolution of the day; prosecute the present study, and breakfast.
  2. 8 – 12  Work.
  3. 12 – 2  Read, or overlook my accounts, and dine.
  4. 2 – 6  Work.
  5. 6 – 10  Put things in their places. Supper. Music or diversion, or conversation. Examination of the day.
  6. 10 – 5  Sleep.
Evening question: What good have I done to-day?

From his autobiography, written between 1771 and 1790. Franklin listed the time blocks as single hours (5, 6, 7 and so on).

If he'd had Stipp

Today Philadelphia
What good shall I do this day?
Today
A to-do list that opens with a question. Bold.
Contrive day's business
Ben's word for planning. We'd like to bring it back.
Work (8–12)
Read, or overlook my accounts, and dine
Lunch and bookkeeping. A classic pairing.
Work (2–6)
Put things in their places
High priority
Franklin admitted order was the virtue that gave him the most trouble. Relatable.
Music or diversion, or conversation
Today
Scheduled fun. Deeply underrated.
What good have I done to-day?
The review. The part most lists skip.

Why this list is so famous

Franklin tried to improve himself systematically. He kept a chart of thirteen virtues and marked each day where he slipped up. The daily schedule belongs to that project: the virtue of “order” called for a place for everything, and a set time for each part of the day.

The best part is at the beginning and the end: a question in the morning and a question in the evening. Most to-do lists are just a pile of tasks. Franklin's also has a reason.

The evening block

Put things in their places.

Franklin wrote that order was the virtue he struggled with most. So not even Ben had it all together. Stipp puts your notes and actions in one place, so at least that part is handled.

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Sources: Benjamin Franklin, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (written 1771–1790, public domain); Big Think; Verbatim. The Stipp version and Stippy's comments are ours.

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