John Quincy Adams, the sixth President of the United States, was not only a statesman but also a model of discipline and intellectual rigor. After reading both Harlow Unger’s John Quincy Adams and Randall Woods’s John Quincy Adams: A Man for the Whole People, I’ve compiled some of his most notable work habits:
- Walking for exercise: Adams walked six miles daily, often before breakfast, as part of his fitness routine.
- Prolific reader and writer: He immersed himself in the classics, read extensively, and wrote consistently.
- Annual Bible reading: Adams made it a point to read the entire Bible every year.
- Early riser: He woke at 5:00 AM, a practice he considered essential for productivity.
- Swimming in the Potomac: As he aged, he shifted from long walks to swimming, often spending 30 minutes to 1.5 hours in the Potomac River at dawn.
- Morning routine as President: While serving as President, he typically woke between 5:00 and 6:00 AM, walked four miles, and read three chapters of the Bible before breakfast.
- Advice to his son: In a letter to his son Charles, Adams emphasized early rising as a cornerstone of success, writing, “Rise early, between 5-6,” and declaring, “Genius is the child of toil.”
- Later years: Near the end of his life, Adams would wake at 4:00 AM to read, write, meditate, and enjoy the sunrise.
- Diary-keeping: Starting at age 12, Adams maintained a diary for 68 years.
- Daily prayer: Each morning, he recited the Lord’s Prayer before getting out of bed.
- Poetry: Adams often wrote poetry.
- Foreign Languages: He taught himself foreign languages by translating books, showcasing his relentless pursuit of learning.
John Quincy Adams’s daily habits reveal a man who valued discipline, physical health, intellectual growth, and spiritual reflection.