How to Be More Organized: Benjamin Franklin's Order System

Benjamin Franklin was one of history's most prolific achievers. But when he created his 13 virtues system, he admitted that one virtue gave him more trouble than any other: Order. He nearly gave up.

His struggle is actually encouraging. If Franklin found organization difficult, so can we. But his system for overcoming chaos—his Order virtue—remains one of the most practical frameworks for getting organized ever created.

Key Takeaways

• Franklin's Order virtue: "Let all things have their places; let each business have its time"
• He created a daily scheme (schedule) that planned every hour
• Organization is both physical (things) and temporal (time)
• Franklin struggled with Order more than any other virtue
• The key is systems, not willpower

Franklin's Order Virtue

Franklin placed Order as his third virtue, defining it in two parts:

"Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time."

This captures both dimensions of organization:

1. Physical order: Every object has a designated spot
2. Temporal order: Every task has a designated time

Without the first, you waste time searching. Without the second, you waste time deciding. Franklin's system eliminates both.

The Daily Scheme (Franklin's Schedule)

Franklin's famous daily schedule was his Order virtue in action:

• 5 AM: Rise. "What good shall I do this day?"
• 5-8 AM: Wash, dress, address Powerful Goodness, plan, study, breakfast
• 8-12 PM: Work (first block)
• 12-2 PM: Read, overlook accounts, dine
• 2-6 PM: Work (second block)
• 6-10 PM: Put things in places, music/diversion/conversation, evening reflection
• 10 PM-5 AM: Sleep

Notice how specific this is. There's no ambiguity about what to do at any hour. The schedule decides in advance, so Franklin didn't waste mental energy figuring it out each day.

Principle 1: A Place for Everything

"Let all your things have their places." This simple rule eliminates one of the biggest time-wasters: searching.

The Hidden Cost of Disorder

• Average person spends 10+ minutes daily looking for items
• That's 60+ hours per year searching for keys, phones, documents
• Mental energy wasted on "where did I put that?"
• Stress from clutter and visible chaos

How to Apply

• Designate spots: Keys go here, wallet goes there, always
• One in, one out: New item means old item leaves
• Daily reset: Spend 10 minutes returning things to places
• Reduce stuff: Less to organize means easier to organize

Principle 2: A Time for Every Task

"Let each part of your business have its time." This is time-blocking before the term existed.

Why Scheduled Time Works

• Eliminates decision fatigue: No "what should I do now?"
• Protects important work: Blocked time can't be stolen
• Creates rhythm: Predictable days reduce stress
• Batches similar tasks: Email once, calls once, not all day

How to Apply

• Identify recurring tasks (email, meetings, deep work, exercise)
• Assign each a specific block on your calendar
• Treat these blocks as non-negotiable appointments
• Group similar tasks (all calls together, all admin together)

Principle 3: The Written List

Franklin didn't trust his memory—he wrote things down. His virtue-tracking chart, daily schedule, and written resolutions all externalized organization.

"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail."

Why Writing Works

• Frees mental RAM: Your brain stops holding tasks
• Creates clarity: Vague intentions become specific actions
• Enables prioritization: You can see everything at once
• Provides satisfaction: Crossing off items feels good

How to Apply

• Keep one master list for all tasks (not scattered notes)
• Write tomorrow's priorities tonight
• Break projects into next actions, not vague goals
• Review the list daily; update weekly

Principle 4: Regular Review

Franklin reviewed constantly: morning planning, midday accounts, evening reflection. Review is how systems stay organized.

Franklin's Review Rhythm

• Daily AM: "What good shall I do this day?"
• Midday: "Overlook my accounts"
• Daily PM: "What good have I done today?"
• Weekly: Virtue focus rotation

How to Apply

• Daily review (5 min): Tomorrow's priorities, today's wins
• Weekly review (30 min): Clear inboxes, update projects, plan week
• Monthly review: Are systems working? What needs changing?

Franklin's Honest Struggle

Franklin admitted that Order was his hardest virtue:

"My scheme of ORDER gave me the most trouble... I found myself incorrigible with respect to Order; and now I am grown old, and my memory bad, I feel very sensibly the want of it."

He even considered giving up:

"I was almost ready to give up the attempt, and content myself with a faulty character in that respect."

This honesty is valuable. Even Franklin—the archetype of self-improvement—struggled with organization. If it's hard for you, you're in good company.

Building Your Order System

Start Small

Don't try to reorganize your life in a day. Pick one area—your desk, your morning routine, your email—and systematize it. Build from there.

Create Defaults

Decisions deplete willpower. Create defaults: "I always check email at 9 AM and 3 PM, not scattered throughout the day." Defaults remove decisions.

Expect Imperfection

Franklin never achieved perfect Order. The goal isn't perfection—it'sbetter. Progress, not perfection.

Track Your Order

Use our Ben Franklin Virtues app to practice the Order virtue weekly. Mark each day you maintain your places and times. Build awareness of when you slip.