Last summer, I did a personal 30 x 30 challenge, in which I committed to doing 30 minutes of family history research for 30 days. It had a number of benefits, the most obvious of which was that I accomplished 15 hours of family history research that month!
With the holiday season, travel, and the addition of a puppy to our family, I got precious little family history research done the last month or two of the year. So I decided that the new year was a great time to start a new 30 x 30 challenge.
I intended to start it on January 1, but I woke up on New Year’s Day with a cold (and a bit of a hangover), so put it off until January 2. I did research on the 2nd and 3rd and completely forgot about it yesterday.
So today, I’m starting a new challenge, which will run from January 5 to February 4. I’m working on my Adams line this quarter, so I will be focusing on the Civil War pension file for my union ancestor George Washington Adams, as well as checking my sources and making sure my electronic documents are properly filed for my other Adams ancestors.
Let me know if you’d care to join me in a 30 x 30 challenge this month!
I love your idea! January is always crazy-busy for me so I can’t play, but please do this again soon – it’s inspiring. Can’t wait to see how you fare.
Thanks, Laura! I hope you’ll be able to join me in a future challenge!
Blogged about your challenge here! http://familylocket.com/daily-research-challenge-2016/
Terrific, Nicole! Glad to have you aboard. I hope we both have a really productive month!
Great idea Janine!
Thanks, Jana. Happy new year!
Janine,
I want to let you know that your blog post is listed in today’s Fab Finds post at http://janasgenealogyandfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/2016/01/follow-friday-fab-finds-for-january-8.html
Have a great weekend!
Thank you, Jana! I’m always so honored and appreciative when you include me.
This one of my goals this year. I will try to do the challenge.
Excellent, Nancy! I look forward to hearing about your progress!
I’m in. I’m ordering your guides, because I’ve got a lot of stuff and I am currently overwhelmed with findings. A blessing and a curse!
Excellent! Please let me know how it’s going and if you have any issues you think I can help you with. And congratulations on all your findings!
The TEN things I’m reading right now… I really wish I’d read that when I began 2 years ago, but now I know deeply deeply how true they are and ingesting them. MY 30×30 goal is to spend 30 minutes per day just tackling the idea of organizing… so that would mean 30 minute blocks filled with: reading your e-booklets, listing out possible “organizing wins” for the 30 days, tackling the wins….basically 30 days or either planning, or carrying out very doable tasks. I’d like to actually avoid doing any more family searching in favor of rebooting and getting myself on a clean “launchpad”… A wonderful winter activity. I’m excited!
I love it! It sounds like you’re setting reasonable, kind goals for yourself. Focusing on the organizing for a month will be pay big dividends, I’m sure! You’re inspiring me!
Don’t let me wear you out with the my check-ins–I know that you are busy, and you don’t have to reply to all these, but I’ll check in under this sub-thread with takeways for the week on Mondays as accountability: Because I’m new, I’m doing this first check-in early:
1) ELFA rolling file drawer! It is exactly what I need. EXACTLY. I already have White Elfa storage in the planned room. This will be for originals that cannot be discarded. Great tip! I was saddened each time I pictured having to buy another heavy old filing cabinet. It was paralyzing me. I have a room with White ELFA storage and love it. Rolling cart is heavenly. How did I not think of this???
See you with the next round of learning/achievement on next Monday!
Hooray! And the good news is that Elfa is on sale this month, so you can get your cart for 20% off! I have three Elfa rolling carts (each holds a different category of files; only one is for genealogy) and I love them!
I love your check ins!
What can you accomplish in half an hour? I need to cut back to half an hour a day and accomplish something not associated with genealogy!
You can get a lot done in 30 minutes, I think, Toni. Simple searches, where you’re recording your results, can be really valuable in small spurts. When I’m transcribing a Civil War pension file, I find I can get a document or two transcribed in 30 minutes. I also count organizing tasks and reading toward my 30 minutes. For me, these short spurts really add up!
Great plan! When I retired six years ago I pictured myself totally immersed in my research! Who knew that lineage societies, genealogy clubs, following blogs and reading online newsletters would take up so much of my time that actual time spent in research was minimal! I am definitely onboard with your 30 x 30 challenge but ramping it up to also include 6 hours two days per week for additional research. Whoever suggested that retirement meant all the time in the world to do what one wants was sadly misinformed!!!
How interesting, Lin! Welcome aboard the challenge! Keep us posted on whether you’re able to get those extra 12 hours a week in!
Hi Janine! Just checking at my first one week point! So far, so good. I did make good on my genealogy commitments of the daily thirty minutes plus six additional hours on two days. I also just started Thomas MacEntee’s “Genealogy Do-over” plan and, though I’m not actively searching my ancestors yet (boy it is hard to hold back!!!), the minutes (hours) fly by as I improve my knowledge of research strategies and such watching webinars and re-reading through published materials covering research strategies that I already have in stacks here in my office!
Thanks for checking in, Lin! Bravo to you for achieving your goal. Sounds like you’re doing great!!
Hi Janine!
I did fit all of my scheduled research time plus more last week. I was doing great this week, way ahead on my daily 30 minutes and then I completely dropped the ball yesterday and did nothing with my genealogy! I’m so disappointed with myself for breaking the chain, even though I know I am considerably ahead of my overall goal after spending more than my goal minutes/hours on other days. I am finding it so helpful to set aside some days for researching tips on research strategies. It is truly helping me focus in on a more organized way of fulfilling my passion for “the hunt!”
Lin, it’s great that you have gotten so much done so far this month! Please be kind to yourself for breaking the chain. I hope you can jump right back into it. I appreciate the update!
Here’s my weekly check-in.
I read both Ordered Roots guides and wrote my connections to the lessons and TODOs therein in my genealogy journal. (This is something I started doing sort of like a research log and diary all together. Helps me note what I did, and what my hunches are, and TODOs and inspirations.). I did run out and get the letter-sized ELFA cart you link to. What a sweet cart!!! And sure enough, 30% off right now. Because my problem is paper overwhelm, I chose a system that would heavily support it,yet help me connect with the large dropbox file system I have. The electronic file structure I created in dropbox two years ago already ties right to the whole 5 generation pedigree chart structure which is reflected in the chosen system.
Goal for next week:
1) Add those few GGGGrandma names I do know. I am following instructions right now.so just going with their example structure.
2) Hanging files all built out and all Records Found filled in for families up through the GGParents on dad’s side. (BUT NO NEW RESEARCH! Only what I know so I can “fill in the gaps” later.).
My challenge is that I keep trying to do new research. I was so desperate, that I started doing searches for a stranger on FB yesterday and 45 minutes in had to stop myself and tell them what I’d found so far. And stop. Read my lips, no new research…
The week after next Monday, hope to organize existing electronic files BETTER, gather all those orphan downloads I was too lazy to put in the system…
The final week…. start tackling the paper monster that came roaring out of my mother’s condo this past fall. (Full of treasures!)
Thank you Janine and Jahine’s readership. I am not trying to take over. I just really need to tell some people who understand and appreciate the obsession. The family… they cower when I get the gleam and start talking. 🙂
Thanks for checking in! I love that you have such clear goals for the month. And I love that you got the Elfa cart! I think they’re terrific. If you can focus on the organizing this month, I it will give you a great foundation for the year. Please keep checking in! And let me know if you have any questions.
Monday check-in. I actually shifted because I’m just not ready to focus on just Dad’s side with both the paper monster and electronic monster. I printed out family group sheets for all families in the 5 generation pedigree chart and put them in the folders along with an empty Records Found index in each.
I actually started tackling the Paper Monster as physically that is what is having a negative impact on my life daily. The struggle is what to physically keep (or share). I’m scanning things and just letting them sit in the scan pile electronically. That will be a monster. Struggling very much with wisest method… maybe more reading and guidance. I got such a PILE of stuff from my mother’s condo.
Maybe the goal this week is to sit with each paper/photo for a moment and ask self checklist questions:
Is this framable? do I want it physically available? Is it something to scan then send to a different owner??
Truly, truly, this pile needs to be tidied….. it is doing my head in.
Thanks for the update! I think your strategy of starting with paper, since it’s stress you most, is a really good one. I have two suggestions which you’re welcome to take or leave. (1) Maybe think of your huge pile of inherited papers as a treasure, rather than a monster. (I would love to inherit a huge pile of papers to go through!) and (2) perhaps come up with a file naming strategy and at the very least name your electronic files as you scan them so they’re easier to file later. You don’t want to create another form of stress!
I love your idea of going through each paper and asking those questions. Decide now, not later, and act on the decision. The other thing you can do is to put the papers in a box and pull out just a few at a time, so it doesn’t feel so overwhelming.
I really admire your dedication!
You are right. I read your reply on 1/27 and started really THINKING about what the 30×30 was meant to do. Indeed, the pile IS a treasure! And it is the pile that had me worried!The idea that I might hop on a computer and keep doing searches and spinning my wheels while actual family treasures and precious evidence sat mouldering was why I joined the challenge.
Last week, I said to myself, “You went through all this work making these carts and these folders, printing out pedigrees, and highlighting names… and these papers BELONG to these family groups! It’s why you made folders” So I pulled a little chunk of papers/photos off the top of the pile, and realized i could pull my cart right up to a brightly lit spot, and I started to file by individual family. And yes, I would benefit from protecting/boxing the larger pile.
Scanning can wait. I created a great dropbox file system based on the numbering of surnames on the 5 generation pedigree last year, and I fly through that when filing. But YES, I have to have a naming system for the files themselves. I read your article on keeping it SIMPLE. I’ll try not to overengineer. Later.
I just did a mindmap to show all the directions my poor brain is trying to go. Very helpful.
So, for now, it is paper every day for 30 minutes, until all tucked away. Even if folders get quite full. No more scanning or electronics. Just sorting. “You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”
I love that you received clarity! It’s going to be so much easier to scan, folder by folder, after that pile of papers is gone and you have the peace of mind that goes with that. File those papers away 30 minutes at a time!
Thank you so much for your encouragement — especially as you are so busy yourself! I have INDEED hidden everything into boxes, and will pull out one. box. at. a. time. And one paper at a time. YOU WERE RIGHT. The pile is too much to look at all at once. Now onto your other articles! I so enjoy your ideas and knowledge share.
Final check in!
This past week I did not actually do a whole lot of storing. I actually did a lot of just sitting in thinking about it. The thinking produced a huge realization.
The stack of papers and memorabilia representing my parents themselves and our family in which I grew up felt overwhelming. But all of a sudden I realized this crazy obvious thing: I have so many resources about my immediate family because I am one of the members in that family group and have had a front row seat to this part of the family history.
How often I have bitterly wished that my ancestors had shared more for posterity. How hugely grateful I felt to my grandmother for making a baby book for my dad that had pictures of my great grandparents and notes about my dad’s first words. The page filled with notations about presents from various relatives and friends.
I realized that my short-term emergency of an overwhelming stack of recent family history documents is actually THE opportunity for me to write my parents’ life histories, and what it was like to grow up in my family and my era. My vision is clear.
I am continuing my challenge for 15 minutes a day to capture documents and photos devoted to five major groups:
all about my dad,
all about my mom,
all about growing up Brady,
my mother’s ancestors, (if easy to file in a particular family group folder, do it)
and my dad’s ancestors.(‘do’)
The 3 short-term goals to write about my mother, about my father, and about us as a family, are clear and inspiring. Any artifacts from these three projects that can then be shared with deeper ancestors later will become obvious–later. I am the subject matter expert of my parents and my generation and I will capture this before I slip into family history and take my place as an ornament hanging off the end of some high up branch.
Let’s hear it for epiphanies! It’s so exciting that you have achieved such clarity. I’m sure it’s really energizing for you. Thank you so much for participating in the challenge and for checking in. I wish you the very best in your 15-minute-a-day challenge. Please feel free to continue checking in and let us know how it’s going!!
Hi Janine!
I finished up my final two weeks of the challenge with flying colors. Trying to fit in the additional six hours on two days per week left me neglecting other responsibilities but allowed me to accomplish so much more than I had been doing! I plan to continue the minimum of 30 minutes daily but will adjust the two intense days to five hours each and will see how that goes. The daily 30 minute block really helps me stay on top of my genealogy emails, blogs, newsletters, etc., allowing me to focus on deep research, longer webcasts and video seminars on the days with my larger blocks of time.
Thank you so much for your encouraging words!
Lin
Go, Lin, go! I’m so glad that the challenge was helpful to you! And I’m in awe at all you have accomplished in the past month! Best of luck in the coming months. Please keep me posted!