Alexander Graham Bell's Daily Routine
End the day on a question, not an answer. Alexander Graham Bell's daily routine: night work from 9:30 PM, then a problem set in his mind before sleep.
By Colin PaceUpdated
Overview
Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone in 1876 and spent the rest of his life inventing, from flying machines to hydrofoils. His daily routine ran on the night shift: he did his best work from about 9:30 PM into the small hours.
He described it to Orison Swett Marden for How They Succeeded (1901). He slept until noon and ate breakfast at 1:00 PM. Before he slept, he set a problem in his mind to take to bed with him. Once a week the night began with company, at the Wednesday Evenings he hosted.
Take this one if you're a true night owl with nobody to answer to in the morning. It also suits anyone who thinks best when the house is quiet and the phone stops.
You get long, quiet working nights and a bedtime habit anyone can borrow: end the day on a problem, not a solution. Tonight, write down one open question before bed and let it keep working while you sleep. Dinner, the salon's start and the open afternoon are our estimates.
At a glance
- 7 hr 30 min sleep per night
- 49 hr work per week
- 2 meals per day
- 7 hr eating window
- 1.5 hr play per week
Schedule
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