One of my biggest challenges when it comes to doing family history research is making and taking the time to actually do it. Sometimes it falls to the bottom of the priority list and doesn’t happen. That’s a shame, because I really love doing the research and am anxious to make progress. I’ve found that putting it on my task list is helpful.
But this month I’m taking it up a notch. I decided to commit to doing 30 minutes of family history research every day for 30 days. I started last Friday, and so far I haven’t missed a day.
Thirty minutes doesn’t seem like a lot of time (which makes it easier to accomplish), but if I do 30 minutes a day for 30 days, that will be 15 hours of research. Two full days. There’s no way I could take two full days to do research this month, but I can find 30 minutes a day.
Since I’ve made this commitment, I’ve worked on my genealogy on days I never otherwise would have. I had a couple of stressful days this week due to a family emergency, but I did the research at the end of the day. That felt great. Right now, one of my projects is transcribing Civil War pension files and that has the advantage of being non-intimidating and easy to open and close. I love that I’m making progress on it!
One tool I’m using to strengthen the commitment and just make it more fun is Don’t Break the Chain. It’s a simple calendar I mark when I’ve accomplished the goal (doing 30 minutes of research). It’s powerful because after a few marks you don’t want to break the chain. That’s my Don’t Break the Chain calendar in the photo above.
Anybody care to join me in your own personal 30 x 30 challenge?
Great idea. I’ll try to follow your example as it’s so easy to get “too busy” and let the genealogy go.
Good luck with it, Patricia! I hope you find it as powerful as I do.
30 minutes a day sounds doable. I need to start today.
Excellent, Ian. Go for it!
There’s a Don’t Break the Chain app for iPhones. http://tinyurl.com/qbwfngm It serves as a good reminder every time you look at your phone.
Thanks for reminding me about that, Patti! I hadn’t added it to this phone. I like that the app will send a reminder at a given time once a day…that could be handy if the day speeds by!
I will certainly be joining you, I need to spend more time on my Family History and am always looking for support to make time for it! My big Family project is taking up all my time at the moment, but as soon as this is done, I will be a be able to go back to my other branches of my tree, which as sadly getting very neglected at the moment! 🙁
Hi Janine, I did something similar to this in 2012 – I made a goal on the 1st of January to try and spend some time on my tree EVERY SINGLE DAY! And to keep myself accountable I wrote up in a Word Document what I’d done each day! Due to some medical issues etc I didn’t achieve my goal every single day – but I did do it for over 9mths of the year! Gotta be happy with that! Am planning on redoing this again, as my time definitely slips away each week. BTW I’ve just found you blog, and plan on reading all of your past posts, as I LOVE what I’ve read so far! Tracy, Australia
Tracy, a year is a huge, impressive commitment!! Congratulations for doing daily research for nine months! For me, 30 days is something I think I can do and I’m hopeful I’ll renew the challenge for another 30 days after this one is over. (I’m still going strong!) I think I’ll take it a month at a time, but I love that we think alike.
Your writing up what you did each day in a Word document is a great way to keep a research log!
I’m so glad you’re enjoying the blog. Thanks for commenting.
I’ll join you! Can’t wait to get started.
Yay, Nicole! We’ll do our January 30 x 30 together.