It’s natural to ask about questions about organizing (your genealogy or anything else) that start with the word “should.” Should I organize my documents this way or that way? Should I store things here or there? Should I focus on this or that?
When I try to answer a question that starts with should, the answer is almost always, “It depends.” Because it’s all about what will work for you.
I encourage my clients (and anyone else who will listen to me) to let go of the word should. And to also let go of asking questions that start with, “What’s the right way to…” or What’s the best way to….”
Because here’s the thing: I can’t tell you what you should do. Only you know what’s right for you. It can be much more beneficial to think in terms of what you’d like to do, or what you think will work best for you, rather than what you should do. Especially when it comes to organizing your genealogy research, the thing you should do (in my opinion) is the thing that works well for you and that you can keep up.
For example:
- Maybe you’ve always heard that you should store your paper documents in binders, but you have trouble keeping up with that. Let go of that should and consider using file folders or scanning your documents.
- Maybe you think you should print every document for the sake of posterity but you’re overrun with unfiled paper. You can let go of that should, particularly if your electronic documents are already organized.
- Conversely, maybe you’ve heard you should scan every bit of paper and store files electronically, but you’re overwhelmed by the prospect. Bye bye, should. You can let your paper files be sufficient. Or just start storing new files electronically and leaving your papers unscanned.
- Maybe you’re told you should keep a research log, but you just can’t get yourself to do it. A research log can be hugely beneficial. But don’t beat yourself up if you don’t have one just because you think you should.
In other words, set yourself up for success and do what works for you. Decide what your priorities are (accessibility for you, accessibility for others, ease of use, etc.) and focus your organizing systems on those priorities. Don’t do something just because someone told you you should if it doesn’t seem like it will work for you.
All that said, there are some genealogy shoulds that I think you should pay attention to:
- You should cite your sources so you can find them again and know where your facts came from (but you don’t have to cite them perfectly if that’s getting in the way of citing them at all).
- You should back up your electronic data in case of a crash. (I use an external hard drive and automated cloud storage.)
Genealogy is supposed to be fun. Don’t let the shoulds drag you down. Make your own choices and own them. And keep yourself open to new ways of doing things. (See what I did there? I told you all sorts of things I think you should do, without using that word. Take what works for you and let go of the rest.)
I know what you mean about what is right for me, but I really should get organised so I think I might just go with the list until I can work it out. I get tempted back to research or contacted by someone the thrill of the chase lol.
Maree, I certainly agree that getting organized is a good idea and that it is doubtless be beneficial! I just encourage you to go about doing it in a way that will work well for you. Any organizational system is better than no organizational system!
Janine, this is such a great reminder and thank you for posting it. It holds true for all areas of life, not just our genealogy. Young people today who are so much involved with social media spend a lot of time worrying about how they should be doing things to be exactly right, or how everyone else is doing whater. Do you mind if I send link to some young ones in my family?
Thanks for your comment, Nan. Of course I don’t mind your sharing a link. I hope the young ones find it helpful! (And I agree it’s an important message for all areas of life.)
Bless you, Janine! Just being let off the hook about citing resources perfectly is a huge relief! I was always afraid the genealogy police were going to come knocking. It is such an undertaking, and I just, as you said, want to be able to find it again…I’m not writing a book. I have let “should” keep me from getting organized for a long time, and I am just now reviewing articles like these and figuring out what I need to do for myself and for those who will, hopefully, care for these records when I’m gone. Thank you for this!
I’m so glad you found this helpful, Caron! Now you can go back to enjoying your research. Just keep citing your sources in some way so that you can find it again. Thanks for commenting!
Wonderful Post. Could replace “Should” with “Could”??
Hi, John. Yes “could” could replace “should”. So could “want to.” Thanks for commenting!
Back in the self-help era of the 1980s, there was a book (I don’t remember the name) with the quote, “Don’t ‘should’ on yourself.” Good advice for genealogists!
Love it! Thanks for commenting, Ann.
Great reminder, Janine! In so many areas of our family history, we get so hung up on the “should” that we end up doing nothing.
That’s so true, Amy! Glad you liked the post.
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve started a Research Log because I thought I should. Lets face it, Research Logs and I just don’t meld very well. But you are spot on about citing sources and backing up.
In starting the Do-Over instigated by Thomas MacEntee I found many early entries I hadn’t sourced and be blowed if I know where I got the information after all these years, very frustrating.
Backing up to somewhere other than your main hard drive is essential and thankfully I do after my hard drive was working one minute and dead as a DoDo the next! I have 3 ext. HDDs I backup to and offsite to Mega.
The processes of Genealogy are “what fits you best”. There’s no right or wrong way. I like to keep Binders, have all documents scanned into Surnamed folders on my PC for easy access to use in RootsMagic and for electronic sharing, others like do away with as much paper as they can, wish I could but when I try I almost break out in hives! I like my paper filled binders 🙂
Thanks for your comment, Wendy! I absolutely agree that when it comes to genealogy, doing what works best for you is the way to go. If you love your paper and your binders, then by all means use them! 🙂