I know that the June 30 x 30 challenge ended just a month ago. It was so beneficial for my research that I’m challenging myself to an August 30 x 30 challenge.
As I wrote at the end of June, the commitment of researching daily–and the habit I was starting to get into–really helped move my research along. It kept me in touch with my ancestors and completely eliminated the “what should I work on?” overwhelm that used to plague me at the beginning of the session.
On July 1 I finished transcribing the massive Civil War pension file of my 2nd great grandfather, George Washington Adams (1845-1938). That was a great accomplishment, but it meant that my go-to project–the one I could just work on without a single thought of what I should on–is off my plate. But I have all the “next steps” I’d recorded in my research log to refer to when I’m trying to decide what to work on. So I’m feeling guided and focused.
After researching for 30 days in a row in June, I was able to continue my daily research through July 9. That’s when I headed to visit my father in Washington state and discovered on the way that he had fallen. I stayed there two weeks, and did get in some research, but my daily routine was so disrupted that researching every morning was out of the question.
So here it is August 1. I am challenging myself to completely 30 minutes of daily research for 30 days in a row. And I challenge you to join me. Let me know if you’re in!
I know that the commitment will motivate me to get out of bed earlier so I can complete my research before the rest of my day begins. And I know that my genealogy research will benefit. I’m excited to see where the month will take me!
Hi, Janine, I’ll join you this time. I do some personal genealogy every few days, but life gets in the way sometimes. August is a slow month for me and I do want to get more done with my one-name study for the Saggers surname. Today I’ll plan out 30 min research a day for August. Like you, I have some transcribing to do, so your challenge will get me moving on that.
Excellent!! Glad to have you joining me.
I am in. I will try this.
Fantastic, Nancy!
Does getting information ready for a family reunion count? I am going to try to do the 30 x 30 but won’t be able to start until mid Aug. at the earliest as I am also moving at this time. I hope that you can keep it up and keep encouraging us to do the same.
Heck yeah! Anything counts that you want to count. In my life, getting information ready for a family reunion would definitely count.
Good luck with your move, Trisha!
I am glad for the encouragement to get all the family papers organized. My problem isn’t the research, it’s the filing portion of it. I know it is “old fashioned” but I am very visual so I like to have both a digital copy and a paper copy. The paper copies are in binders (or files) by person in date order so it is like a timeline as I look for info. However well meaning I am, I get behind on the filing portion really quick, so I am going to try to file each day of August for 30 min. a day. Even a few minutes a day would help…….
You are not alone in having a filing backlog, El! A few minutes a day can make a HUGE difference in filing. Doing it daily, even for a few minutes, will help you get rid of that backlog and create a habit of filing regularly, so maybe the backlog won’t come back.
If you’re also doing research and generating new paper, I encourage you to file it the day it comes into your life, rather than adding it to the backlog. That’s a great habit to create.
I’m going to try. I really need to do this!
Great, Carol! Good luck with it. Let us know how it’s going.
I want to join in…..I too have a ton of papers that need filing and learn how to log what I am doing. Years of neglect and the advance of the internet have me somewhat overwhelmed…
Welcome to the challenge, LaVern! If you’re feeling overwhelmed, breaking projects down into small tasks and working on them 30 minutes a day can be a huge help!
Since retiring my research has become my new daily desk job so daily research happens everyday just like going to work did. But I would like to join the challenge in a specific direction. My 30 minutes a day will be organizing old family photos. Both physically and digital.
Thanks for the motivation.
I think that’s a great idea, Gayle! 30 minutes a day will make a huge difference with your photos.
I’m jealous of your freedom to do a lot of daily research! Sometimes it’s really hard to tear myself away after 30 minutes.
Count me in. I need to make sure to have some fun and relaxation each day. It’s been all work.
So I am going to make my 30 x 30 be to fall in love with genealogy again by just doing 30 minutes of whatever I feel like which could be reading a magazine from new England genealogical historical society or reading my Blaine Bettinger DNA book or doing some actual filing but it has to be something that I just feel like doing that day. Maybe even just watching a Who Do You Think You Are? or something like that.
What I end up doing instead because I’m constantly at work lately or doing band kids stuff and just generally exhausted is that I do the mindless searching for random ancestors almost like when you play on your Facebook feed because you’re too tired to do anything purposeful. So I would just give myself 30 minutes to do something that touches on genealogy and it feels right for just that half hour
I love that goal! Be kind to yourself and enjoy your genealogy. I can’t wait to see how this challenge affects your relationship with your research, Joy!
What a shot in the arm! Pictures, papers, documents, etc. etc. I will tackle the built up stacks of printied items accumulating on my desk. 30 minutes EVERY day – at least – for a 30×30 !
Will do!