Excerpt from Zeng Guofan's 12 articles of self-discipline
first, get up early. Get up before dawn every day and never stay in bed. Second, sit still. Sit still for half an hour every day, that is, one hour, to calm your mind. Don't be impetuous every day and be led by affairs. The third is to study. Read ten pages of classics and ten pages of history books every day. No matter what problems you encounter, you will never change. And never touch the next book until you finish reading it. The fourth is to be cautious. It is always vigilant not to talk indiscriminately, and be careful in every sentence. The fifth is to preserve our health, save labor and abstain from eating. Abstinence means abstinence from desire, diet and eating, which is the way to keep fit. Sixth, I will talk about one in every diary after tea. Just take notes, find a notebook, name it, call it a tea break, and remember all kinds of inspiring things that friends talk about when chatting. Chatting can't be for nothing. Seventh, I have to write several articles and poems every month, and I have a fixed task. Eight is to practice calligraphy. After breakfast every day, I have to write for half an hour. The last one is not to go out at night. Don't go out to chat with friends when it is dark.