Benjamin Franklin Evening Audit

Close out your day using Benjamin Franklin's evening routine. Reset your space, record what good you accomplished, and audit your daily habits.

4 time blocks, 50 minutes in total.

Time blocks

Workspace Order Reset: 10 min
Put books, papers, and tools back into their designated places
Supper and Evening Diversion: 20 min
Eat a light meal, enjoy music, or converse with family
Evening Examination Question: 10 min
Ask what good you have done today and note your answers
Virtue Ledger Audit: 10 min
Review your virtue chart and mark any lapses made during the day

About this routine

Benjamin Franklin's evening routine was built around a structured 50 minute shutdown at the end of his workday. In his 1791 autobiography, Franklin detailed his daily time block system, which reserved the evening hours for putting his workspace in order, sharing supper, and reviewing his actions.

The core of his reflection rested on a single guiding question: What good have I done today? After recording his answers, he examined his thirteen personal virtues, including order, frugality, and temperance, and marked a spot in his notebook for any lapses committed that day.

This structured review gave Franklin clear feedback on his daily conduct. You can follow this sequence as a daily routine timer to close your workday with clarity and deliberate rest.

Why this routine works

Clears mental residue by organizing physical work items before rest
Encourages active reflection on positive contributions made each day
Tracks personal habits and values with objective daily evaluation

FAQ

What was Benjamin Franklin's evening routine?

Benjamin Franklin spent his evening putting his workspace in order, enjoying supper and music, asking himself what good he had done that day, and auditing his virtue ledger.

What question did Benjamin Franklin ask himself every evening?

Franklin asked himself: What good have I done today? This question formed the core of his nightly examination.

How long does Benjamin Franklin's evening audit take?

The entire structured audit takes 50 minutes, covering workspace reset, supper, reflection, and virtue tracking.

Sources

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Franklin