We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
The Power of Planning
When I was a child, habits were consistently associated with something negative. However, as I have grown, I have learned that habit is just another word for pattern or practice. And a habit can refer to something positive.
There are countless ways to track a habit and so many ways to put them into practice. Moreover, habit formation is not a new idea. We can trace habit formations back to some of our leaders in the early 18th century. But habit forming all starts with a plan.
In his autobiography, Benjamin Franklin, writer, inventor, statesman, publisher, and economist, relates that he decided to focus on arriving at moral perfection early in his life. Franklin made a list of thirteen virtues he wanted to practice and assigned a page to each one. Beneath every virtue, Franklin composed a summary that brought the virtues to life with depth and meaning. When Ben Franklin was satisfied with his summaries, he practiced each virtue for a planned period.
Benjamin Franklin developed a method to rate himself on his daily actions to execute these virtues as a habit. First, Ben drew a table with a row for every virtue. he then created a column in a journal for every day of the week. Every time Benjamin Franklin made a fault, Franklin made a mark in the appropriate column. Thus, each week he centered his attention on a distinct virtue. Over time, through repetition, he believed that he would experience the pleasure of “viewing a clean book” one day.
He says that he conducted out this personal quest for years. But to do the work thoroughly, he changed his approach. Ben Franklin decided to attempt each virtue and a quarter of its importance – one at a time. He started with temperance, which included the moderating of every pleasure or tendency to develop undesirable habits. Then, explaining that self-control acquires the coolness and clarity needed where steadfast vigilance is to be kept up and guard maintained against the unremitting attraction of old habits and the force of perpetual temptations as found in “Benjamin Franklin On Moral Perfection.”
Franklin’s other virtues practice in succession were silence, resolution, order, frugality, sincerity, industry, justice, cleanliness, moderation, tranquility, humility, and virtue. For the summary order, he followed a trivial system of employing his time each day. Every morning from five to seven, Ben franklin spent his time catering to his attention. These tasks included eating breakfast, prayer, contemplating the day’s business and resolutions, and deep studying. Then, beginning at eight, he worked at his trade until twelve, at which time he overlooked his accounts, read, and consumed lunch at one. Then, from two to five, he resumed his work concerning his trade. By keeping this schedule, he allowed the rest of the evening until ten to immerse himself in music or diversion of some sort.
It looked something like this:
THE MORNING.
Question. What good shall I do this day?
Hour 5: Rise, wash, prayer
Hour 6: Contrive day’s business, and take the resolution of the day; prosecute the present study
Hour 7: breakfast
Hours 8-12 Work
NOON:
Hour 12: Read
Hour 13: Overlook accounts
Hour 14: Dine
THE EVENING:
Hour 15-17: Work
Question. What good have I done today?
Hour 18: Put things in their places
Hour 19: Supper
Hour 20: Music, diversion, or conversation
Hours 21-24: Examination of the day
Hours: 1-4 Sleep
Franklin also spent this time putting things in their places. But before retiring for the day, he was always sure to reflect on it. At the mature age of 79, he ascribed his health to temperance, the acquisition of misfortune to management and conservation, the confidence of his country to sincerity and justice.
Ben’s remarkable success in life and politics can be attributed to his perseverance to overcome his liabilities and desire to become better constantly.
Next time you find yourself determined to achieve something, take time to focus on your very own journal. What is the temptation that is standing in your way to growth? What changes can you make that can transform your habits into becoming a success?
To help you get started download our free habit tracker to get you started. Or help yourself to our daily planner.
Take control of our day and work up to a “clean book”!
What are your thoughts? I'd love to hear them!