I can’t believe it’s already January 15. It’s time to check in and let us know how your 30 x 30 challenge is going this month. Have you been able to reach your goal of daily research? If not, have you done more research than you might have done without the challenge? Please chime in in the comments and let us know how it’s going, whether you’ve made any great discoveries and/or how you’re feeling about your progress.
I’m not actually participating in this month’s challenge–I’m taking a little break from genealogy research and focusing on my health and fitness. (Nothing bad is happening, I just want to take it up a notch!) And I’ve done great with that this month. In fact, if you’re curious, you can take a look at the current issue of organizing newsletter, which I just published, which has a picture of this month’s habit tracker and all its glorious checks. And please feel free to subscribe to that newsletter, which is for people who love reading about organizing.
I can’t wait to hear how your 30 x 30 challenge is going!
I’ve put in a bout six hours so far this month, but will be way ahead of the goal by the end of this month.
Bravo!
I have been knocking out a goal which was officially completed this morning! This is on WikiTree — I’m now a badged Profile Improvement Project team member! My next efforts this month are to finish out some volunteer WikiTree efforts and get organized around how much time I dedicate to those efforts, in an intentional way. (1 hour/week of fixing broken links for Data Doctors… that kind of thing.)
I’m pushing my McEntee Do-Over back a little bit because I’m learning SO much from WikiTree volunteering, all of which will assist me in the Do-Over. My Do-Over is happening on Wiki-Tree, so it all makes sense.
Congratulations!! It’s always great to achieve a goal and it’s wonderful to get that WikiTree recognition! I hope the second half of the month is equally productive.
Thanks, Janine. I’ve been doing well with catching up on my NGS and OGS quarterlies. The challenge has also spurred me on with my fiction reading.
That’s great, Marian!
I’ve managed to do about 45 minutes per day. My goal for this month and the next couple of months is to completed my census documentation for the period 1790 – 1830. For some ancestors it is a little difficult, since only the Head of Household are listed. I love the hunt.
Those censuses can be tricky! Good on you for tackling them. And congrats on 45 minutes a day!
Thank you! I look forward to my 30×30 each day, and it usually lasts an hour.
That makes me so happy, Diana!
I started on January 6 and have done at least 30 minutes a day in addition to “making up” the 2.5 hours from the later start. My Day#1 felt really good, but on Day #2 I developed a bad case of the Tomorrows (as in, that was when I’d feeling like working). Thank you, Janine, since I had made a commitment, I made myself get back to it. I worked for 1.5 hours. My goal is to get my office straight so I can work in a non-stressful environment, and find stuff, both genealogical and personal. After just two days, I could see progress, so it’s much easier to get back at it. Love the 30×30!
Constance, I’m so glad that the challenge has helped! It can be so easy to put office straightening off (or really tidying/decluttering/organizing any space) and it’s so rewarding when you get it done. Keep up the great work!
I jumped into the 30×30 mid-month. Lately when I think about working on genealogy I get overwhelmed about my piles of family history stuff collected over the past few decades and feel I should organize it first. But it occurred to me that I could spend that 30 minutes just working on things I enjoy the most, I don’t have to organize everything beforehand (although it would be nice if I were better organized). So I’ve been having fun doing things like perusing Moravian church records from the 1700’s and analyzing family trees of my DNA matches. Now that I’m enjoying myself I look forward to the 30+ minutes. And as you have pointed out, there are many benefits from revisiting family history daily. I’m very happy to have been motivated to take on the 30×30!
I’m so glad you took on the challenge, Linda! One thought: I don’t know how complicated your family history “stuff” collection is, but I wonder whether you could do just one thing–like process a single document. And then reward yourself with 30 minutes of the fun stuff. That might be a way to inch forward in getting those taken care of without them overwhelming you. That said, I think you’re absolutely right that you do NOT have to organize your genealogy before you can do the fun stuff!
Good advice. If I spend a few minutes doing some organization and then reward myself with the fun stuff I will begin to make progress organizing. Thanks!