One thing I’ve learned from all the time I’ve spent at home during this pandemic is that it isn’t a lack of time that prevents me from doing regular genealogy research. Apparently it’s a lack of accountability. So I’m declaring a new 30 x 30 challenge for June.
Will join me in committing to 30 minutes of genealogy research for 30 days in a row? Of course you can modify the challenge any way you want. But I’m looking to get into a groove of daily research, which was woefully lacking this month. I’m actually going back to working with organizing clients on June 1, but I won’t be so busy that I can’t insert 30 minutes of research into my daily routine.
If you’re in, please let me know in the comments. Here’s to a great research month!
I’m in! I’ve been completely out of any sort of routine and need to get back into one. There are a few other projects I plan to spend 30 minutes per day on as well — either until they’re done, or, as in the case of genealogy which is never done, in hopes of establishing a new (or revived) habit.
Excellent, Hazel!
I’m in!
Great!
I’m in, too! It’s a great opportunity for me to test out a revised approach for my Research Log.
I’d love to hear how about your approach and how it works out, Russ!
Count me in! I need to go through old paper to transcribe and scan and hopefully uncover facts from documents I haven’t looked at in years!
Excellent! Here’s to some great discoveries.
Terrific, Russ! Good luck with your test!
I’ve recently discovered your site and excited to join in your challenge!
I’m glad you found us, Lori! And happy to have you join the challenge. I’ll post a mid-month update and ask for folks to report in the comments how it’s going.
I’m in. My 30 minutes will be spent working on items from my mindmap of my genealogy hobby… SO many directions to take on any given day… volunteering… DNA matches… learning how to use tools better…. I realize that I finally need to just take a project-based approach with calendar and timeline to manage all this.
Welcome to this month’s challenge! Sounds like you have plenty to do!
This sounds like something I need to do! I have until June 23 to use Ancestry & my subscription is done until they have a sale. This will hopefully motivate me.
Excellent! At a half hour a day, you can get almost 12 hours of research accomplished on Ancestry before your subscription is over!
I’m in. I plan to tackle a notebook full of articles and webinar notes and create a Reference Center with Evernote. I’m just learning to use this app so this should be good practice. Thanks so making this challenge available.
I’m starting the same project! Wish I knew categories to set up, not to copy neccesarily, but to get ideas. Sites I’ve found give suggestions, but don’t show what they have done. I’ve downloaded filterize, it seems like it’ll help sort. If you’ve bought the upgraded version, it’ll help you create emails that will go to each folder, instead of just your main one.
Linda, have you seen Kerry Scott’s book, “How to Use Evernote for Genealogy”? I don’t know if she has specific suggestions, but she may.
I love the idea of a Reference Center notebook, Gwen! Good luck with it.
I’m in, thanks for the prompt. I’m going to work on the blog I’ve intended to write for the last 6 months. I did all the research but now want to write my great-grandmothers emigration story.
Terrific, Kendra! Best of luck with your blog. I hope the challenge is motivating!
I’m in! I’ve successfully used this 30 x 30 challenge but for various reasons have totally gotten off track. I look forward to using this to re-establish my daily habit.
Excellent, Linda. Me too!
I’m in. I’ve been doing lots of genealogy while sheltering at home; I need to be more focused. So I’ll do 30 days of reviewing family records that I uncovered when emptying out family homes. I need to get rid of the boxes!
That sounds like a great 30-minute-at-a-time task, Terry!
I’ve spent the past two days (more than 30 mins) organizing emails and saved websites pertinent to my colonial ancestors. I’ve been working on researching all the surnames of the women who married into my ancestral line. And, I think I have them all! Whew! Now to seeing if there’s more info in these emails and websites I need to add, cite them and clear the digital mess!
That’s quite a project, Molly! Welcome to the challenge.
I am in. I had been doing research almost every day, but this past week I got off my routine, so it will be good to be on this challenge.
Glad to help you get back into your daily routine, Jerry!
I’m in ,,, but I’ll do an abbreviated 30 x 30. We are doing a family get-together the first part of June, so I’ll start on June 9th.
I love that you’re setting yourself up for success by delaying the start of your challenge, Karen! That’s great.
I’m in! I have one research project to finish up. This challenge should help me get back to work.
Great, Joan! I hope the challenge helps you finish up the project!
I’m in, too! We recently had a small water leak. I was disappointed to discover the only thing that got wet was my plastic basket of old family photos I had planned to scan! I was able to salvage and dry almost of all of them, though!! Those have now been scanned and are being pressed flat. First on the 30×30 list will be finishing up scanning the other photos (all currently in waterproof tubs) then organizing and adding some into photo albums and Shutterfly books. I’ve learned my lesson!! Thanks for this challenge! I need it to stay accountable. Z
I’m so glad you were able to salvage and dry mosst of your photos! Good luck with your photo project–it’s a great thing to do 30 minutes at a time.
I’m in, if I join. I am exicted to spend 30 minutes each day to better organize myself. I am currently working in 30 minute time slots so I don’t get to carried away with doing. things. It breaks up my schedule and helps me to become better focused. I look forward to now being better organzied also. This will keep me honest on my progress
Rebecca, my timer is my best friend. I agree that 30 minutes at a time can be really productive. Welcome to the challenge!
Count me in, too! I need some motivation and I hope this will be it! Thank you! Brenda
Happy to provide motivation, Brenda!
I’m in! I need to get stuff organized and type up some notes so it’s a good time to do it while working from home.
Excellent, Wanda. Welcome to the challenge!
I’ve never done this, but I’ll try my best to stick to it!!
Terrific, Janet! I find this challenge to be really helpful.
Great idea! I am in.
Fantastic!
I’m in too! I’ll be writing, including work on my stalled portfolio.
Welcome to the challenge, Donna! I hope you make great progress in your writing.
I am in too! I think I need to start reviewing all my research findings to make sure they are valid. While I don’t have doubts, I think it’s good to try and review with a fresh perspective.
I agree about the value of reviewing your research findings, Melanie. Your note makes me want to take that on during this challenge!
I’m in! I am working on a book through Canvas and am realizing missing information in my tree. Also needing to work on organizing my files!!
So glad you’re joining us, Sandi!
Yes! I’m in. You are so right about all the time at home with little progress to show for it. My husband and I have just relocated to our cabin in VT for the summer. I’ll use my 30×30 to work on a genealogy writing project that is stretching on TOO LONG, because of too little time committed to it on a regular basis.
That sounds like a great way to spend some summer time in Vermont!
I need this!
Glad you can join us!
I’m in. Have a Civil War soldier and his family to document. Maybe it will become a book!
I love researching my Civil War soldier ancestors! Good luck with your project.
I’d like to give it a try. Curious to see where this leads in my family history efforts.
I hope you benefit from it as much as I do. I find short daily effort combined with accountability is so beneficial for my research!
Does this come to me by email or do I need to access a particular URL to opt in and follow the 30 x 30?
It’s actually simpler than that. You make the commitment by leaving a comment on this post and then do the work. Mid-month, I’ll write a check-in post and you can let us know in the comments how it’s going. That’s all there is to it!
I’m in. I am very proud to say that I finished my last 30 x 30 challenge, sticking to my boring renaming/reattaching project and it was actually finished on May 2. I was aiming for the first day of summer. This month, I am cleaning up my genealogy blog and will use the 30 x 30 to stick with another boring, but needed project. 🙂
Linda, you’re a 30 x 30 rock star! So glad you’re joining again.
I am in – I am so behind on my families and need to be more focused! I start one thing and get distracted by another shiny thing and I am off to another family!!
I find it’s easier to resist the BSOs when I know I have to stop soon. Maybe this challenge will help you too!
I’m finally going to do this! I just started the Do-over because I feel it is so necessary for me. Being a full time caregiver, I don’t seem to have much time left for me. But I NEED THIS! So I am going to start today. Thanks for the motivation.
The 30 x 30 challenge is great for busy people! Good for you for taking care of YOU!
I’m in – a day late it seems!
It’s never too late to join this challenge. Welcome!
Love it and need it! I am in!
Excellent, Cheryl!
I’m in. I just need to keep up the organizing of my information. I also sorted my pictures to scan. Thanks for doing these 30 x30 challenges. I need the incentive to continue.
You are so welcome! I’m glad you benefit from the 30 x 30 challenges.
In!
Excellent!
If I only spent 30 minutes a day, my body would start rejecting my internal organs.
🙂
I’m in! I have a long quick note list of family stories that I need to write down so I’ll be doing that for this month.
I’m in! I have a long quick note list of family stories that I need to write, so I’ll be spending this month writing those family stories down.
I’m in. I have been working with a 2nd cousin. I have all sorts of pictures and papers to scan and send to her. Have been putting it off for months. So this should get me started!!
I’m in even though this is June 15! During this covid19 stay at home order I have organized loose photos (recent ones, not old ones) into family groups, college groups, etc. Now I need to start to get them scanned. It is an overwhelming project.
Welcome to the challenge, Lindell! It’s never too late to join. Scanning projects can be overwhelming indeed. I find that breaking it into small blocks of time takes away a little of the overwhelm. Good luck to you!
Can I do a “better late than never” on June 21 – LOL? Or will you do a July 30 X 31? Quarantine time means more research time.
You can join the challenge whenever you want, Chris! I won’t be running a July challenge, but you can have a personal one!
I am in and bringing my husband along! Thank you for this challenge. It is what we needed!
Terrific, Nora! We get a twofer with you guys. I hope you have a great month.
I am in, also.
Yay, Kathleen. Welcome!