Benjamin Franklin's Framework

Franklin's scheme comes from his Autobiography, where the virtue of Order demanded that every part of his business have its allotted time. Five to eight: rise, wash, address Powerful Goodness, contrive the day's business and take the resolution of the day, then study and breakfast. Eight to twelve: work. Twelve to two: read, look over the accounts, and dine. Two to six: work. Six to ten: put things in their places, supper, music or diversion or conversation, and the examination of the day. Ten to five: sleep. The morning opened with the question what good shall I do this day, and the evening closed with what good have I done. It is the earliest time-blocked day in the set and still one of the most sane: seven hours of sleep, eight of work in two halves, three hours to start the day and four to end it. Currey notes that the demands of the printing business meant Franklin often failed to keep it, which is worth remembering before you judge yourself against it.