A Modern-Day Approach to Benjamin Franklin‘s Highly Effective Daily Routine [Free Templates]

Benjamin Franklin is revered as a Renaissance man who excelled in a wide range of pursuits from statesmanship to invention to philosophy. But he didn‘t achieve his extraordinary success by accident. The Founding Father relied on a strictly regimented daily routine to maximize his productivity across many areas.

While Franklin lived in the 18th century, his method of meticulously planning his days is just as relevant in the 21st century. Salespeople and professionals today can supercharge their effectiveness by borrowing the key elements of Franklin‘s routine that enabled him to accomplish so much.

In this post, we‘ll break down Benjamin Franklin‘s daily schedule and show you how to adapt it for the modern age using Google Calendar and Evernote templates. By emulating the proven habits of one of history‘s most prolific figures, you can take control of your time and optimize your output. Let‘s dive in!

The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin

Before we examine Franklin‘s routine, it‘s important to understand the historical context behind the man. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) was one of the most accomplished Americans who ever lived. Just some of his notable achievements include:

• Helping draft the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution
• Serving as the first U.S. Postmaster General and Ambassador to France
• Making groundbreaking scientific discoveries like the nature of electricity
• Inventing bifocals, the lightning rod, and the Franklin stove
• Writing the popular Poor Richard‘s Almanack
• Founding the University of Pennsylvania and the first public library in America

How did one man manage to have such a massive impact in so many different fields? The answer lies in his carefully crafted daily schedule, which allowed him to spend his time with intention and purpose.

Inside Benjamin Franklin‘s Daily Routine

Here‘s a look at what a typical day looked like for Franklin:

[Embed Franklin‘s daily schedule image]

Let‘s break this down section by section to analyze how Franklin optimized his time:

5am-8am: "The Morning Question"

Franklin started each day at 5am by asking himself, "What good shall I do today?" He used these early morning hours to plan out his day, focusing on how he could best use his time to achieve his goals and benefit others. This self-reflection set him up with purpose and direction before getting sidetracked by the day‘s demands.

After defining his priorities, he dedicated time to "powerful goodness" which included study, prayer, and exercise. Franklin believed in cultivating both the mind and spirit to prime himself for maximum productivity.

8am-12pm: Focused Work Block #1

Franklin did the bulk of his important work in two four-hour chunks. From 8am to noon, he worked intently on his highest priorities, aiming to make significant progress before lunch. The limited length of this work block forced him to concentrate deeply without wasting time on distractions.

12pm-2pm: Midday Break

In the middle of the day, Franklin took a step back from work to "read or overlook my accounts, and dine." He used this break to have lunch, review his finances, read, and rest his mind. Disconnecting from work for a period prevented burnout and recharged him for the second half of the day.

2pm-6pm: Focused Work Block #2

Returning to work, Franklin put in another solid four-hour shift to complete his key projects and tasks. Notably, his total work time per day was eight hours, which has since become the standard duration of the business day.

6pm-10pm: The Evening Question

Franklin finished his workday at 6pm and turned his attention to dinner, relaxation, and socializing. Before bed at 10pm, he asked himself, "What good have I done today?" This self-evaluation helped him measure his accomplishments and consider how to improve tomorrow.

Here‘s how Franklin described his routine in his autobiography:

"I… divided my time into certain portions. In the beginning of each portion, I resolved diligently to employ that portion in the business allotted to it. In the morning I spent one hour in prayer, reading, meditation and study, and one hour in exercising. Then I worked four hours. At noon I spent two hours in reading, meditation, or conversation, and then resumed my work at two o‘clock and continued until six. In the evening, I spent four hours in reading, writing letters, or conversation, and in reviewing the day past."

By frontloading his days with planning and back-loading them with evaluation, Franklin instituted a powerful personal accountability system. Let‘s look at how you can apply the same techniques to maximize your own productivity.

Applying Benjamin Franklin‘s Method for Modern Professionals

While very few of us are Renaissance polymaths like Franklin, there‘s still much we can learn from the way he structured his days. Here‘s how to adapt Franklin‘s routine to the realities of the modern working world:

1. Define your core priorities. What are the most important things you need to accomplish today to move towards your goals? Take time each morning to thoughtfully plan how you will spend your time instead of just reacting to what comes up. Be proactive, not reactive.

2. Block your time purposefully. Dedicate focused blocks of time to your highest-leverage activities so you can make meaningful progress. Schedule your most challenging tasks for when you have the most mental energy, and limit each work block to a reasonable length to maintain concentration.

3. Build in buffers. Take regular breaks to rest and recharge in between intensive work sprints. Completely disconnect from work to give your mind time to recuperate. Go for a walk, have lunch with a colleague, or read a book.

4. Reflect and adjust regularly. Review your daily accomplishments and consider how to improve. Ask yourself Franklin‘s morning and evening questions to stay focused on your objectives. Over time, aim to optimize your routine for maximum productivity and performance.

To make implementing these strategies easier, I‘ve created a Google Calendar template that mirrors Franklin‘s schedule. It blocks out time for morning planning, two four-hour work shifts, a midday break, and an evening review. Customize the time blocks to fit your own peak productivity periods and work requirements.

I‘ve also put together an Evernote template for daily journaling to emulate Franklin‘s practice of starting each morning with purpose and ending each evening with reflection. Use it to write out your goals in the AM and evaluate your progress in the PM.

The Science Behind the Schedule

While Benjamin Franklin lived long before the emergence of modern psychology, his methods are supported by a wealth of recent research. Studies have shown that:

• Early risers tend to be more proactive and productive than night owls (Source)
• Taking regular short breaks boosts focus and performance (Source)
• Journaling increases goal achievement and self-awareness (Source)

In one experiment, people who wrote down their goals and dreams were 42% more likely to achieve them compared to those who didn‘t (Source). Other research shows that having a consistent daily routine reduces stress and improves overall well-being (Source).

The takeaway? There is proven value in being intentional about your time and establishing positive habits like Franklin‘s. Next, let‘s cover how to adapt his routine to the unique needs of sales professionals.

Franklin‘s Formula for Sales Success

For salespeople dealing with an endless stream of calls, meetings, and prospecting, implementing a schedule like Franklin‘s may seem unrealistic. But taking control of your calendar is what will enable you to focus on the activities that drive results amid a sea of distractions. Here‘s how:

• Spend your early morning planning your outreach for the day. Prioritize prospects and schedule dedicated time for thorough research, personalized messaging, and sequential follow-up.

• Set aside your peak energy hours for focused prospecting and business development. Don‘t let reactive tasks like email derail your proactive money-making activities. Aim for at least two solid time blocks per day to move deals forward.

• Take breaks between prospect and client interactions. Reset with a short walk, review your pipeline and performance metrics, and get into the right headspace before your next meeting.

• Cap your workday at a reasonable time and evaluate your sales activity and outcomes. Give yourself an honest report card and determine where to invest time tomorrow for maximum ROI.

According to the book 15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management, top performers dedicate 60% of their work time to important tasks versus 40% for the average person. Scheduling your days like Franklin is what will empower you to focus disproportionately on the things that generate the biggest impact.

Make Franklin‘s Routine Your Own

At the end of the day (pun intended), Franklin‘s method is so effective because it combines structure with flexibility. He followed the same general pattern daily but adapted it as needed to his individual situation and goals.

The key is to experiment with his system as a starting point and then customize it to your unique needs and preferences. While Franklin woke up at 5am, not everyone does their best work before dawn. If you‘re more of a night owl, you may prefer to shift your focused work blocks later in the day.

The non-negotiables are dedicating time for planning, executing on priorities, recharging, and reviewing so you are continuously improving your performance over time. Commit to sticking to your new routine for at least 30 days to make it a habit. It may feel challenging at first, but eventually, it‘ll become second nature.

Use the Google Calendar and Evernote templates provided in this post to kickstart your own Franklinian routine this week. Treat them as a starting canvas you can personalize for your lifestyle and goals.

Conclusion

Benjamin Franklin‘s enduring influence is a testament to the power of his systematic approach to personal productivity. By ruthlessly prioritizing his time and regularly reflecting on his performance, he was able to achieve the astounding accomplishments that made him a luminary of his age.

While you may not be drafting constitutions or inventing bifocals, you can still use Franklin‘s methods to reach your full potential. Committing to a purposeful daily schedule is what will empower you to do your best work, avoid burnout, and make consistent progress on your biggest goals.

As Franklin said, "lost time is never found again." Take control of your days like he did, and there‘s no limit to the impact you‘ll be able to make. Rise early, structure your time with intention, and ask yourself every evening, "What good have I done today?" You might just surprise yourself with the results.