Tomorrow is the first of the month and I’m ready to start another 30 x 30 challenge. I was a little hesitant because I failed so miserably in my January 30 x 30 challenge. But I realized that’s not a good reason not to try again.
I want to be kind to myself and not put too much pressure on my time in March, so I’ve tinkered with what I’m committing to this time. I’d like to average 30 minutes a day over the next 30 days (starting tomorrow), doing genealogy research, genealogy organizing, genealogy learning (i.e. RootsTech sessions, webinars, and the Mid-Continent Public Library Spring Seminar, which I’m planning to attend) and genealogy writing. I’m working on a new Orderly Roots Guide and I have been having trouble prioritizing it. So I’ll allow that work time to count toward my 30 x 30. That’s what feels good to me this month.
How about you? Would you like to join me in doing 30 minutes of genealogy-related activities for 30 days in a row in March? If so, how will you modify the challenge to fit your needs? Please let me know in the comments if you’re in. I’ll be posting a mid-month check-in as well as a wrap up post.
Here’s to a great month!
I think a challenge is just what I need, and I will just say, (because I have lots I can do as well) ANYTHING under the heading Genealogy will work for those days. And into my BuJo it will go.
That’s great, Janet! I hope it’s a productive month. And let’s hear it for BuJos! (I’m a huge Bullet Journal fan.)
I accept the challenge. I will use a combination of research and education (RootsTech, NC Spring Conference and webinars).
Welcome to this month’s challenge, Gwen!
I would like to try the challenge for the first time. Thanks for giving me the incentive.
I’m glad you’re joining us, Susan. I hope you find the challenge valuable!
Yes, I need a challenge, too. I’ve used Reunion to generate (and then heavily edit) the narrative of my husband’s ancestors. We have full sentences with funny stories about the individuals! Photos! But (believe it or not) there are too many source citations. Every birth has a list of citations to census entries in addition to a birth record of some kind, etc. I need to trim those down to a few of the most authoritative and exact sources. I’ve been putting off this part of the job, and March has 31 days, so it’s time.
Excellent, Marion. Congratulations on the family history you’ve written. Sounds like you’re in the home stretch!
I also need a challenge. Starting tomorrow I will start with my husband and his family to make sure all sources are documented etc., once complete move onto my family, in preparation for a family book to be compiled for my two children.
That’s great, Faye. I hope it’s a productive month!
I’m at the point of reviewing, editing, and highlighting gaps in my DAR Supplemental Applications. Now my 30×30 I’m entering the facts documents and source citations into RootsMagic 9. For example I have a will. It lists the heirs. Instead of only data entering the lineage parent/child account needed on the app, I data enter all heirs and their spouses, etc. I extract all the facts from the document and build out my database at the same time.
It slows down the process, but I find great satisfaction knowing, I gleaned the facts from the documents. I began this approach when I decided to set aside my previous database that I didn’t save any documents nor create source citations. I’m building strong lineage branches to support future research. Building back to hopefully discover Patriots is rewarding.
Cheri, I agree with you 100% that entering every bit of information (not just direct lineage) will support your future research. That’s exactly the path I’ve been on for the last ten years. I’m glad you’re joining us on the challenge!
So well timed – i need to recover from 5 close family birthdays in 10 days [all female]…
4 x 1 hour library trips plus writing up & teasing out some themes on several inter-related
families;
10 minutes a day filing
Major challenge: NOT to jump into other areas but stay focused and get words out
Thanking you, Janine
Happy birthday to those family members! Sounds like you have a great plan in place. I think the key to staying focused is to have a place to jot down the clues you find that don’t contribute to your current focus. I blogged about that, here in case it’s helpful: https://organizeyourfamilyhistory.com/follow-up-notebooks-to-the-rescue/
You are spot on about the follow up notebooks, Janine – so far have not deviated too far though tempting.
Quite possibly i am attempting to look at too wide a family network and over too wide a time frame. But can definitely see more clearly and broadly.
It can be so challenging to keep focused! In the past, I have benefited from focusing on one line per quarter. Knowing I would be changing it up soon helped me stay focused. Here’s a blog post about that: https://organizeyourfamilyhistory.com/focusing-my-efforts/
I’m in. I do better when you challenge us with the 30 x30 challenge.
Pat, I’m so glad you find the 30 x 30 challenge helpful! I hope you have a great genealogy month.
March is when all three of my children have birthdays so I might skip this one
I hope your kids’ birthdays are so much fun, Maree!
I’ve was researching Saturday at a genealogical library and found a hint to a long time question. I need to prove/disprove that hint now. That will be my focus for March.
That sounds like a fun challenge, Mary! Glad you’re joining the challenge. I’ll look forward to hearing how it goes.
I’m in, too. I plan to watch some of the Roots Tech conference online, work on the narrative on another ancestor and, if time, investigate a bit of My Heritage.
Terrific, Zenda. I’m glad you’ll be part of the challenge!
I’m “in” for this 30/30 challenge. I have 1,945 media items on an external hard drive that I need to process into Ancestry and FTM. I calculated that I need to do 8 items a day to have them all processed by the end of the year. This will be a good way to start for this 30/30 challenge. I am going to strive to complete (at least) 8 media items a day. Today, to begin, I actually processed 29 items but before I get too proud some of them were duplicates that just needed to be deleted. Thanks for this challenge.
Go, Cheryl, go!!
I need a challenge like this also!
Excellent, Brenda! The more the merrier!
This is just the type of challenge I need. I’m 3 days behind but any day to start my 30 minute is a good day!
You’re absolutely right about that, Cathy! I hope you have a great month.
I’m (likely) not going to join you in the challenge this month.
On February 26th – just slightly over three years after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s – my mom died. The funeral was a week ago today. Yesterday, we just finished sitting shiva (the week-long mourning period right after the funeral). My “challenge” (so to speak) for this month is to relax, for the first time since the pandemic started to *not* have (exponentially increasing) stress, and to (start to?) catch up on all the shows and movies I’ve wanted to watch for the past year but haven’t.
If you do end up doing this challenge again in April or even May, I think I might join you then.
Good luck to everyone else on their endeavor.
Rebecca, I am so sorry to hear about your mother’s passing. I know firsthand what an impact that loss can have on one’s life. I think your focus on relaxing is so smart. I remember when I lost my father in August feeling untethered after years of his well-being occupying my thoughts constantly. I was frequently advised after his passing to give myself grace. That is excellent advice. I’ll keep you in my thoughts and look forward to your joining a challenge whenever you’re ready to. Hugs.