September went by so quickly and, according to my research log, I researched only about six times. So I’m declaring a 30 x 30 challenge for October 2021. I need the accountability of publicly committing to 30 minutes of genealogy research a day for 30 days in a row. I have a crazy work day on October 1. So I’m going to start on October 2 and finish on Halloween.
It might be a bit challenging because in October I’ll be traveling to visit my father, brother and aunt in Walla Walla, Washington. But I find that being with family always reminds me of my genealogy research, so I should be okay.
Who would like to join me? If you’re up for the challenge, please let me know in the comments!
I’m in for the challenge. I have only researched about 4 times in September. Where does the time go??!!!!!
I agree, Linda! Glad you’re joining the challenge.
Funny you initiated this. Somehow, September was over before it began for me. In fact, I’ve spent the last few days reassessing my goals to reboot only relevant ones. This has become a perennial September event, which I consider a benefit. It builds new enthusiasm for the year’s home stretch. 30×30’s are fabulous.
September did include Amy Johnson Crow’s 4 part series on FamilySearch.
Wasn’t that great? It was the genealogy highlight of my month!
That was AWESOME. Thank you for the heads up on Amy’s class!
I’m so glad you took the Amy Johnson-Crow’s Family Search class! I agree that it was awesome!
Fantastic, Cheri! Let’s hope all have a productive month!
Always enjoy reading your monthly reports, Janine.
I had a DM this month on Ancestry from a new user. He noticed I had his grandparents on my tree. His great grandmother was the elder sister of my granddad. He gave me some lovely additional information.
It’s one of the things I’ve really enjoyed about Ancestry…..it’s put me in contact with relatives I knew nothing about before
That’s fantastic, Darren. I hope you have a great October!
I will join a cousin sent me 40 pages of his family history and I need to get it added in the tree plus a cousin in Germany did quiet a few look ups that I need to translate and add to the tree
Terrific! What a great project!
I am in! I was all over the place in September with research – some really long, productive days, and then lots of days with nothing. The 30×30 challenge is always good for me!
Fantastic, Roberta. Welcome to the challenge!
I am in on the challenge. I always look forward to these challenges. September was hit and miss for my genealogy research. I did reprioritize my genealogy to do list for 2021. For October I want to send a genealogy report to my wife’s nephew and I want to summarize on excel all Wolf or Wolff families that lived in Wisconsin in 1850.
Good for you for focusing on your goals for the rest of the year, Jerry! You will hit the ground running in October! I’m glad you’re joining the challenge.
I’m in. My current project is abstracting church records for the small village of Udol, Slovakia. The Latin portions are okay, but the 30 x 30 challenge will encourage me to stay on track as I try to master the years of Cyrillic records – which is a completely new learning experience for me.
Wow, Linda! You’re a genealogy superhero. Welcome to this month’s challenge!
I’m in. My 30×30 is:
No MORE than 30 minutes.
NO looking for new DNA cousins on Ancestry or 23andme
30 minutes per day of my Citations class, developing citation templates, and applying them
I’m tired of my sloppy tree and time-wasting ways.
Sounds good, Joy. Please be kind to yourself! I hope this 30×30 is very satisfying.
I subscribed to Newspapers.com last month and am having a great time learning more about my granddaddy and his father-in-law who owned a department store together. Both were active in civic organizations and church. I’m in!
Great, Nita! I love newspaper research and have found newspapers.com to be so helpful. Enjoy!
I’m in! I’m so grateful for your idea of the 30 x 30s, it has given me a new outlook on working my genealogy. In the past I would feel I needed to block off large sections of time, so I didn’t work on my genealogy as often as I would have liked. Now, I have much better consistency using 30 minute or more blocks of time. This month I am trying a companion journal to record my general progress as well as my research. Thanks Janine, I appreciate your inspiration!
Thanks so much, Deb! That’s exactly how I used to feel and the 30 x 30 challenges have really been helpful for me in changing my outlook. I’m so glad they helped you! I love the idea of a companion journal. It sounds more appealing to me than a research log!
I’m in for the October 30 X 30! I feel like I haven’t done any research on my family forever. I’ve been doing courses and watching webinars, but no research. Hopefully, this challenge will get my researching again and deciding on a specific project. Thank you Janine for doing these challenges.
That’s fantastic Catherine. I hope the challenge gets you looking at your ancesotors!
While I would love to, I’ve taken a step back and realized that I have eight things going on this month. Doing genealogy research would be number 9. Therefore, I’m sadly going to have to beg off in participating in this month’s (very much wanted) 30×30.
By the way, you’re not alone; you did even better than me! I only got the equivalent of four days of genealogy research done in the whole month of September.
Rebecca, good for you for not putting added pressure on yourself this month! I’ll be doing another 30 x 30 soon, don’t you worry!
As much as I would love to partake, due to a few big work projects this month, and a couple of more personal things happening I won’t be able to do it this month, however, am looking forward to the next Challenge, and I will be in a position in November to challenge myself to a personal 30 x 30.
Missy, I promise there will be another soon. Good luck with your big work projects!
I am in! My work is mostly sourced, but I get off track alot. I want use GPS to develop better research habits by focusing on one family this month, review what I have, make a plan , and actully write a report. Going to try keeping a notebook handy for the BSOs
Sounds great, Beth! I hope it’s a great month!
Yes – count me in. I’m late already but I’ll just extend my activities a bit into November. I already have a huge list of what I want to do. Good luck everyone!
Fantastic, Alex!!
I would love to learn more about your challenge.
Anjanette, the challenge is very simple. You commit doing 30 minutes of genealogy research/organizing a day for 30 days. Or you can change the challenge to any parameters that meet your needs. You say you’re in the comments here and then at the mid-point in the month I’ll do another post where you can say how it’s going. And there will be a wrap up post at the end of the month. The idea is to keep your research top of mind and to feel a little accountability. I find it to be very effective!
Thank you. I thought you had assignments for each day of the month.
Oh gosh, I don’t have energy for that. 🙂