The woman known to history as Catherine the Great was born Sophie Friederike Auguste and was the daughter of an altogether insignificant German prince. However, through her mother's line, she was cousin to Karl Ulrich, duke of Holstein-Gottorp and heir to the Russian throne. It was through this family connection that the young Catherine and Karl found themselves married in 1745.
Their marriage was an utterly miserable affair. By most accounts, Karl was an immature alcoholic. And Catherine had several extramarital affairs that place the paternity of all three of her children into question. Her relationship woes aside, Catherine was determined to make the most of her position in life. Shortly after she became Empress, she had her husband arrested and forced him to abdicate.
Such were the events that led to Catherine gaining direct control of Russia. With this control, she expanded Russia towards both the West and the South. She even managed to create over 100 new towns within her dominion, all while managing her nation's military and her own court. The Empress was known for her energy and her determined spirit.
So, what kind of routine did the most powerful person in 18th century Russia have?
Catherine worked for 15 hours every day starting from the time that she woke up at around five or six in the morning. She would spend the first three hours of her day in her study, doing a wide variety of activities. During this time, she would annotate works by diplomats and lawmakers, write plays, and draft laws.
Then, Catherine would eat breakfast with her close friends. At 9 AM, she would start her working sessions with her ministers, state secretaries, and generals. She always stopped her work for lunch and resumed after eating. Catherine often spent her evenings playing cards and would go quickly to bed after relaxing while having her hair brushed.
What can we learn from Catherine's routine?
1) Make time for the things you want to do right along with the things you have to do.
Though Catherine was the leader of a country and matriarch of a family, she made time to write plays, correspond with philosophers, and even play cards. The times where we get to do what we most enjoy can reinvigorate us and make us even more productive.
2) Work in a variety of settings.
Moving from her quiet morning ritual to her collaborative afternoon sessions most likely increased Catherine's mood and satisfaction and reduced burnout. Working this way has been scientifically proven to have great impacts on productivity as well.
