How’d you like to join me in committing to doing 30 minutes of genealogy research for the 30 days of November? I think November is a particularly great month for a 30 x 30 challenge, at least for those of us in the United States, since it’s the month of the Thanksgiving holiday, when many families get together. What better time to do some research in anticipation of asking questions of family members or sharing findings with them?
I’ve been doing periodic 30 x 30 challenges since August 2015. They’ve really helped me stay focused on my research. I love the public accountability and support. And I’ve learned they help create a habit of daily research. This one’s for you, not for me, because–believe it or not–I’ve been researching daily since my August 2017 challenge! That’s three months in a row without missing a day. I feel like it’s become a wonderful habit; I absolutely love starting my day with genealogy research.
I’d love to support you in a 30 x 30 challenge this month so that you can experience the joy of creating this habit. Who wants to join me?
Some time in the next couple of weeks, I’ll write a post about the benefits of brief, daily research…it’s really quite different from the sporadic, longer sessions I used to do in the past.
Just post a comment if you’d like to join the challenge!
I already do research just about every day, but I might try a 30×30 challenge to scan items that I set out months ago for scanning.
That’s a really good point, Marion. Your goal for the 30 days doesn’t have to be to research daily, it could be something else entirely! I think a scanning goal is fantastic.
I’d like to join the challenge. Group support and friendly competition will keep me focused – and I’ll definitely learn new things!
Excellent, Chris! Feel free to comment about your progress here. I’ll also be posting a mid-month update post.
Count me in!
Excellent!
I tend to work everyday. But I will set some small goals for each day.
Sounds great, Marty. Feel free to share your goals here!
November is also National Write a Novel Month. I am going to use the 30 x 30 challenge in November to transcribe the notes I have from family interviews and to write up family stories from the recollections of my living mother and mother-in-law. I hope to end the month thankful for the progress I have made on this important preservation project. Thanks for the inspiration and encouragement.
Janet, that sounds wonderful! I participated in National Novel Writing Month several different years. And the key to success for that for me was daily effort. Glad you’re participating in the challenge!
Hi Janet and Janine,
I heard about your challenge when Janet emailed members of our society and I am going to join the challenge. I, too, am going to focus mainly on writing stories for family history. Writing down those stories and memories seems to be my biggest personal challenge and I could use a little (or a lot) self-discipline in that area.
Fantastic, Bette! Welcome!
I actually already worked today with organizing, so it seems fitting to join your challenge.
Thanks for providing a needed boost.
Perfect! Keep us posted on your progress, if you’d like, by commenting here or on the mid-month post I’ll write.
November is great for the quest 30 * 30. I have Polish, Ukrainian roots. It is a pity that I do not live in America. I now travel to Russia, I live in St. Petersburg. But I really like this idea. On the last Sunday of November, Mother’s Day is celebrated. In honor of this day, also connect to the program 30 * 30. Do you mind?
I don’t mind your participating in any way that works for you, Irina! And I’m delighted to have a reader and participant in St. Petersburg!
I would probably do over 30 minutes once I start researching I lose track of time then it’s hours later
There’s nothing wrong with that if you have time for that much research, Debbie! I can’t spare that much time on a typical day, so I set a timer and pull myself away when the timer goes off.
I have a pretty solid family tree for 5-6 generations back from me. I inherited that from my dad, who is 92. But there wasn’t much documentation so my research has focused on that for several years. When I did my DNA I began an online tree so that I could easily locate and store documents online. So now I need to get all that downloaded and sourced in my software. That’s what I’ll begin now. 30 minutes a day should be do-able!
That’s an excellent project for 30 minutes a day, Diane!
I’ve needed something like this for years. I have trouble sticking to task. I want to make a habit of 30×30 to get my genealogy paperwork under control. It has been said that it takes 21 days of continual work on a particular task to make it a habit. I need all the help I can get. I have my aunt’s research papers that need to be documented and filed. Not to mention if she has one copy of a form, she has 3 or 4. I’m drowning here!!!! Glad to find you. Vicki Shimp
Welcome to the challenge, Vicki! That is a perfect project for a 30 x 30 challenge. I am jealous of your inherited documents!
OK! I am new to this kind of thing. Frankly, I have no idea where to go from here!!! Advice?
Vicki, what are you needing advice on? Dealing with your documents or the 30 x 30 challenge?
Well, the 30 days have passed, and I confess I haven’t been as faithful to daily sessions as I promised. But I did clear up several stacks of things that needed scanning. I set up my scanner in a better work location. I shared some of those old 1×2″ photos from the 1930s and 1940s with family members, scanned at 1200 dpi, and they were thrilled to be able to see the familiar faces in a large enough form to recognize.
This dovetailed nicely with a project of our local genealogy club: reviewing our own genealogy databases for ourselves, our parents, and our grandparents — to confess which documentation we were missing. I have birth, marriage, and death certificates — but hadn’t scanned and cited them in my database. More grist to my mill.
I rather like the idea of a 30×30 (or more) daily work. I am ready for this sort of thing. However, it is the holiday season and I can’t see myself having any time until after the new year!!! By the way, I am doing the exact same thing in my house and it is working very well. I can’t wait until the chapter that works with reducing paper!!!!! Everyone needs some support!!! Vicki Shimp
Vicki, I’ll start a new challenge in the new year (either January or February)!
I am embarrassed that I have written three times and didn’t remember. That will tell you how I like to procrastinate. I am ready to go to work (after the New Year!!!)!!! Vicki
Marian, thank you so much for commenting, which brought my attention back to this challenge! I apologize that I didn’t do a mid-month check in. Good for you for setting up your scanner and getting some scanning done, even if it wasn’t every day!