In the previous mission, you changed your relationship with time using time boxing. On the other hand, the current mission makes you listen to your body better, realizing that not all the time boxes are equal. Some are better for focused work, while others are good for relaxing. How about merging the powers you gained from both these missions?
Usually, people run from one source to another in search of productivity hacks, but if you listen to your own body, you become capable of inventing your own hacks. And this was the case with Benjamin Franklin, a famous polymath, and one of the Founding Fathers of the US. Long before time boxing was a term and science knew nothing about hormonal changes within the body, Franklin was already benefiting from both the hacks together.
By any standards, Franklin was an over-achiever. To name some of his achievements, not only did he serve in the American Revolution and publish the first political cartoon in the US, but he also invented the Lightning Rod and Bifocal lenses. At the same time, he managed to author Poor Richard’s Almanack, a great book in its own right. No wonder he is on the $100 bills in the US today. Impressive, right? The rise of this child of a candlemaker is a fascinating story, but for now let us stick to his daily schedule, which reveals how he could do all this within 24 hours a day.
In his autobiography, Franklin gives us a glimpse into how he planned his day:
The beauty of this schedule lies in its simplicity. It is worth noting that:
Franklin limited focused work to just two windows of 4 hours each
Almost 8 hours every day are kept for simpler activities and relaxing
The day starts with elaborate morning rituals
The day ends with the reflection, “What good have I done today?”
And most importantly, everything has its fixed timeboxes
Simply by listening to his body, Franklin knew that he should jump to essential work right after the morning rituals. He even scheduled non-demanding work for his slump after 7 hours of waking up. Since his day started at 5 AM, his slump was around 12 PM – 2 PM. And all of this without knowing any scientific research, but just awareness of self.
Use this Kompass as an affirmation that you are on the right track. Combine the powers of timeboxing and circadian rhythm to get the most out of your day. Here are some highlights worth adopting:
Pay attention to when you feel the rise and dip in focus
Keep your to-do list short and simple. Focus on doing the essentials well
Keep non-demanding activities for periods of lower focus
Protect your relaxation time at all costs (scrolling through social media doesn’t count)
How many of these are already in your schedule?
Your life is your responsibility. Be all in! 👑