I am so ready for a 30 x 30 challenge to kick off the new year. Who is with me in committing to doing 30 minutes of genealogy research (or organizing) each day for 30 days, starting tomorrow? I know that I’m much more likely to do daily research when I have this accountability. And one of my goals for 2022 is to research every day.
I’ll be working on preparing for the 1950 census release on April 1, as well as processing the (gulp) 78 files I have in my backlog. I created a little spreadsheet on December 26, when I had 88 files in my backlog and have slowly been whittling it down. During those five days, I downloaded seven documents and processed 17. My hope is that, little by little, the backlog will be eliminated by the end of the month. I’ve worked every day for the past five days and have been getting into a groove that I hope will carry me right into the new year and beyond.
If you’d like to join me for this simple challenge, please let me know in the comments. I’ll create a check-in post mid-month and at the end and we can all let one another know how it’s going.
Happy new year! Looking forward to a new year of fun research!
Sounds like a good plan to me. I’m in, even though I usually do at least 30 minutes 3 times a week.
Excellent! You can define success however you’d like!
I am in, what the heck.
Terrific, David! I hope you find the challenge helpful!
Count me in…..a good plan to start the New Year…..
Great! I agree it’s a good way to start the new year.
I’m in also. Still working on my paternal grandfather’s line — updating Legacy software with cited sources. Thanks for the challenge and Happy New Year!
Happy new year to you too, Gwen! Glad you’re joining the challenge.
I’m in. I need to standardize my Reunion sources from #1. One a day should be doable. Thank you and Happy New Year.
Excellent, Crystal! I love realistic goals.
I’m in. I’m one of those sporadic genealogists but this will be a commitment to get organized and proceed from there.
Welcome to the challenge, Nadine! Daily effort can be so helpful.
I definitey need the motivation, so I am jumping in head first. Thanks for reminding me to block time out daily for genealogy
That’s great, Rebecca!
Today’s task is to clean off my desk, organize my backlog, and create To-Do’s for projects. I’m ready for the January 30×30. My Q1 Power of 3 Goals are set. Presenting 2022 with its challenges and rewards.
You have it together, Cheri! Sounds like a great start to a great year.
Let’s go 30×30
Here’s to a great month and a great year!
I am in for the challenge. Will be busy transcribing newspaper articles on a incident that my grgrandfather was in. Want to complete this task before I start tackling my other 2022 goals.
Glad you’re joining us, Jerry! Sounds like you’ll be very focused. I hope the transcribing reveals interesting things!
My desk is clean. 30/day is very doable. I am used to working in short spans of time.
Welcome to the challenge, Lois!
I’m in
Going to attempt to do this again. I have a week of babysitting Grandkids & can’t take my computer with me but, I will take paper work that I can organize. I am cleaning out one of my desk draws now. My desk is actually in good shape as I cleaned it up before Christmas & have not had any time to delegate to doing any work at it.
Excellent! I hope it goes well. Enjoy your grandkids!
First try for me doing the 30×30. I need to force myself to stay focused on one goal at a time. Too much time being spent going down rabbit holes!
Welcome to the challenge! Having a goal and a spot to write down all the clues that don’t serve that goal can really help you stay focused. Daily effort helps a lot too, I find. I hope you have a great month.
I’m in too!
Excellent, Mary!
Count me in! I’ve never participated before. I’m hoping to be much more consistent in my research!
So glad you’re joining us, Cindy!
I’m a newbie with this as well! Looking forward to it!
Gray
Excellent, Gray. So glad to see both new and familiar names among the participants!
I usually do a few hours of genealogy research each day, since I retired 2 years ago. My to-do project for 2022 is to scan and caption tons of old photos. The 30 X 30 will be perfect to keep me on track with that one task. I’m ready to go!
Danni, I think you’re right that 30 minutes a day will make a huge difference in your photo project! I’m glad you’re joining the challenge!
I’m in!
Excellent!
Count me in. I’m super excited 🙂 https://familytreefrog.blogspot.com/2021/12/2022-new-years-resolutions.html
Great, Alex! And thanks for sharing your blog post. Good luck with your 2022 goals!
What a great way to start off the new year! I too am excited to join the group and see what I can accomplish in these next 30 days! I have a few projects that I want to get completed by the end of the year so what better way to get them started! Thank you!
That’s terrific, Bobbie. I hope it’s a great month for you!
I am in…I can do 30 minutes a day to move things along.
I look forward to seeing what I can accomplish this month and going forward.
I look forward to seeing what you can accomplish this month too!
Looking forward to it!
Glad you’re joining us!
Made 1st day – defining task the hardest I suspect. Love the enthusiasm
You’re right–defining the task can be challenging (whether we’re talking about your goals for the 30 x 30 or for a given research session), but it is so helpful. I hope you have a great month!
1st serious go at doing this but hopefully whittling right down to specifics the hardest part ….
Love the enthusiasm
Happy New Year Janine, and everyone!
I am in, I was always planning to set this as a NY challenge for myself after a very busy and messy second half of 2021. My plans for January are to make some progress on my backlog of DNA matches, I have two missing ancestor lines (one on each side of my family), and I am looking to focus on those for the first quarter of 2022 to see if I can make some headway.
That’s great, Missy. I hope the 30 x 30 challenge is helpful!
I am in. Still pretty new to this so may need to spend a little time setting research goals. Am retiring next week and looking forward to finally having some time to devote to research.
Congratulations on your retirement! Setting research goals will be so helpful to keep you focused. Sometimes having a lot of time to research can make you feel overwhelmed by the possibilities!
Sounds like you have a great project to work on, Ces! Glad you’re in.
I’m joining too! I am trying the 52 Ancestors challenge and let my 90-year-old mother pick the ancestors for January. Going to spend one week per person and get as much info into a timeline to send to her. Off to Scotland to research the Nicol family.
I love that you’re combining 52 Ancestors and 30 x 30, Sky! That’s great synergy. Enjoy.
I am going to give it another go. I didn’t do so good for the October 30×30, so I can only do better. 🙂
I didn’t do very well in the October 30 x 30 either, Catherine. I hope we both do better! So glad you’re joining again.
I haven’t done much genealogy at all lately. Hopefully this will give methe nudge I need to clean up the piles on the floor.
I’m in. I’m taking an online genealogy course so will be devoting some time each day to that and the research project connected with it.
That’s great, Zenda! I hope you’re enjoying your course.
I guess if you don’t start somewhere, you won’t get anywhere, I’m in also
Daily effort is a great place to start, Jim!
What a great way to start the new year! I’m in!
I’ve been working on creating a narrative on my husband’s second great grandfather for a joint project started by a cousin, so this will help me stay focused! And I do need to get back to my file organizing project that I started in June…
So glad you’re joining the challenge, Cecile!
I’m going to try a new approach and hopefully get back on track. I get 30 minutes to dive down any one rabbit hole I want BUT I have to include a write up with not only source but how we’re related and why this ‘bunny’ caught my eye. .
That’s a really interesting strategy! I hope you’ll report back how it works out!
I am belatedly in. Did some Ancestry hints yesterday for my own tree and helped a friend in a panic about having lost all her work in Ancestry that day. (She had made the changes in a different tree). I still have 6 hours left today to get started.
It’s never too late to join the challenge, Marty! Even if you didn’t get your 30 minutes in yesterday, you can start today! Glad you’re joining us.
I know I’m reading this late but I need to join this even if I do have to go over the final date.
Excellent, Phyllis! You can make it a 30 x 27 challenge if you want. Or a 27 x 27! Welcome.
just saw this now and I am in. Will concentrate on my blog and website though. That definetly needs a new strategy and makeover.
Yay, Barbara! I hope you have a great month! Good luck with the makeover!
– did get distracted from challenge 1 day by 1st trip to library in 3 months; the joy in reading a genie mag
cover to cover, then hunting on microfilm for a car accident that happened about 60 years ago … now back
to reducing paper plus 20 minutes focus on 1 theme …
Your library trip certainly counts! You make we want to go to the library.
Sorry I’m late but I’m in!
Oh good! Glad you’re joining us!
Forgive me…but what is it that you are considering “backlog”?
Sorry to be cryptic! When I refer to my backlog, I’m referring the documents I’ve downloaded but not yet analyzed and entered into my genealogy software.