Thomas Edison's Daily Routine

Thomas Edison gave the world the phonograph and a practical electric light, and held more than 1,000 US patents. He also claimed he needed only 4 hours of sleep, but his daily routine in 1901 had him in bed at 11:00 PM.

That year he gave Orison Swett Marden his day for How They Succeeded: at the laboratory by 8:00 AM, home for tea at 6:00 PM, then study until bedtime. The legend comes from earlier, when at Menlo Park he worked 18- and 19-hour days and slept only about 5 hours. The 4-hour claim is best read as self-mythology.

This one suits anyone who wants to keep growing while holding down a full job. It's a good fit for people with a long-term skill to build, like a language, a craft or a field you want to move into.

You get a working day with a fixed end and 4 evening hours that belong to learning. To start today, choose one subject and give it the first hour after dinner. The wake time, lunch and the short midday catnap are our estimates.