How did geniuses live? Exploring the daily routines of great people
If we turn to the stories of great people from past centuries, it turns out that in order to be as productive as possible, one needs to properly cultivate oneself, and the results will not take long to appear. Intrigued? Let’s find out how geniuses lived and what from their experience can be useful to us in the modern world.
The Life and Work of Geniuses
A Canadian scientist, Paul Thagard, studied more than 160 stories of outstanding figures in science and culture from past centuries. His goal was to derive a successful formula for an effective daily routine and see whether it resembled the modern work schedule.
Research showed that more than 70% of successful people did their most productive work early in the morning. Slightly less than 50% worked during the daytime. About 20% worked exclusively in the evenings, while 15% proved to be “night” workaholics.
If you analyze all the schedules of famous people, several common ideas can be seen in their personal approaches to work.
Idea 1. A clear schedule. Self-discipline and self-organization were the axis around which the lives of famous personalities revolved. Notably, each of them set their own routine based on personal preferences. Many also included amusing habits in their schedules. For example, director Federico Fellini always called his friends at 7 a.m., and for many he even became a reliable alarm clock.
Idea 2. Continuous productive work. Each of them devoted several hours exclusively to their work, without being distracted by calls, conversations, or other matters. In writer Thomas Mann’s house, working hours from 9:00 to 12:00 were a period of strict silence. Children were forbidden to make noise or even play near their father’s study.
Idea 3. Breaks. Every great person’s schedule definitely included a break in the full sense of the word. It lasted at least 2 hours, allowing a complete switch to another activity or time to reflect on what had already been accomplished. For example, composer Strauss managed to have lunch, take a walk, and play cards during his two-hour break—after which he would return to work.
What useful habits can we borrow from great people?
The habit of not getting distracted. Make it a rule to forget about social networks, phones, and smoke breaks during working hours. Soon you’ll see how quickly and efficiently three hours of work can pass by. Quite likely, this will help you accomplish tasks much faster than before. And set a specific time for checking emails and messages. For example, Benjamin Franklin devoted his lunch hour to correspondence.- Resting outdoors. Every hero in these studies had mandatory time for walks in their schedule. Walking and fresh air have a positive effect on brain function, calm you down, and provide your body with necessary oxygen. Consider this an investment in your own effectiveness and spend at least an hour outside each day.
- Passion for your work and responsibility. Creating music, developing plots for new novels, or meticulous medical consultations—no matter what famous people did, they considered it their main calling.
How can you work effectively today? If you truly enjoy your job, make it your main focus for the next eight hours. The results won’t keep you waiting long. Quite possibly, you will become someone your colleagues see as having managed to organize work with maximum efficiency.