Back in late September, I created a post asking for your input on the impact of perfectionism in genealogy as I worked on my RootsTech talk, “The Imperfect Genealogist.” I was surprised when I didn’t get much of a response and I then I discovered that an updated security package with my GoDaddy account had turned off commenting as a default and I didn’t realize it.
I’m getting back to work on my talk (it’s due next month!) and thought I’d try again. Thanks very much to those of you who replied to the September post after I got comments up and running! I’d love to hear more from others in comments to this post. Here’s what I wrote in September.
I think about perfectionism a lot. It’s the topic of the podcast I co-host with my friend and life coach Shannon Wilkinson every week. But lately I’ve been thinking about it particularly in relation to genealogy, since I’m working on my RootsTech talk next year, called “The Imperfect Genealogist.”
Here are some ways I have seen perfectionism causing genealogists to stall in their research:
- You don’t know how to do source citations correctly, so you don’t do them at all.
- You haven’t come up with the perfect way to organize your research, so you just keep doing research without organizing it.
- You don’t have a whole weekend to devote to your genealogy research, so you don’t do any research at all.
- You don’t know the very best way to preserve your archival documents, so you let them languish in an unsafe, non-archival environment. (We discussed this very thing on Episode 20 of Getting to Good Enough.)
It’s your turn. Can you help me out and let me know how perfectionism can get in the way of your genealogy life? Please share the things you tend to get perfectionistic about and the impact it can have. (If you’ve figured out strategies for getting past that, I’m all ears!) Just leave a comment on this post. I’m sure you’ll contribute things I haven’t even thought of!
Hi Janine, I find myself re-inventing storage and filing systems every couple of years and it’s driving me mad. Same with color coding and everything belonging to sorting my data. Why not sticking with what I have and which is working 90%okayish? No, I have to go and try to find the “perfect” system. Which doesn’t exist. I know that and still re-whirl everything.. aargghhh 🙂
Thanks for that contribution, Barbara! I think it can be okay to switch things when the stakes are low. (I’m always monkeying with my task-management system, for example.) But revamping genealogy organizing systems in pursuit of the perfect one can be counterproductive!
When I think of an improved way of keeping and cross-referencing records (especially documentation), I’m sometimes discouraged from making the switch by the volume of existing records that would have to be brought up to the new standard.
I think now I’ve gotten old enough to shrug that off and say, “I’ll use the better way from now on, and I’ll worry about updating the old ones when I feel like it, or one-by-one as I use them.”
Honestly, instead of struggling to cite sources correctly in my Roots Magic software, I’ve taken to using the notes feature with each fact to word process where the info came from. Works for me!
I like that a lot!
I have the same problem as many of your readers and as you already mentioned:
You don’t know how to do source citations correctly, so you don’t do them at all.
You haven’t come up with the perfect way to organize your research, so you just keep doing research without organizing it.
Along with that also as another one of your readers mentioned I have ADD (primarily unfocused). My biggest problem with genealogy and life in general is INDECISION.
One thing I have got a good handle on is my research log. I discovered long ago and decided this would work well with my indecisiveness, to use Windows Notepad. I discovered that I can create a template for my research log or any other document that I want to use as a log template. I open a new Notepad file. Place at the top of that file “.LOG”. I saved it with the generic file name “YYYY MM Research Log”. I closed that file at the end of the month and create a new one for the next month. Each time I open that file for the current month, the file automatically places a date time stamp at the end. That is where I make my current entry. Then I discovered after Windows XP, that Windows notepad will no longer accept medidata. So I created a spreadsheet that captivates all my research logs, and input one cell for each line entry all of the metadata that I have used in that log. These metadata include surname, location, file type Etc.
One more thing is that I duplicate that log entry using copy and paste into my Legacy Family Tree database if it applies to one or more of my peeps. I taste that log entry into the notes for that person.
Knowing why you’re citing sources and creating sources that serve that purpose is a “good enough” approach to source citation, in my opinion. Thanks for contributing, Eileen!
Yes! That’s the “good enough” attitude that I endorse! That’s a great example of how perfectionism could get in the way of progress (though you’re resisting it). Thanks!
I always want to have things perfect, but I think I’m also very pragmatic in realizing that I’ll rarely get there. I sew a ton, and I’m constantly reminding myself that finished is better than perfect, because if I worry too much about perfection than it’s no longer enjoyable and I don’t even want to work on it anymore. And family history research is much the same. I wish I could have multiple perfect sources for each person on my tree. But that’s not realistic, and yes, those imperfections still irritate me and I certainly still notice them, but being able just set that aside and keeping going is more important. And unlike my sewing projects, it’s surprising to me in the long run how things will turn up in family history and I’ll be able here and there to fill in some of the gaps and correct mistakes.
The nice thing about genealogy, in my opinion, is that it’s never finished. So you can always go back and improve things if you find more sources, for example. I don’t sew, but I do knit, and I know just what you mean about finished being better than perfect! Thanks, Kami.
My perfection problem is not knowing when to stop. Like the child of a great great aunt and her kids and their kids etc. My solution is to change their profile picture (if I have one) to this picture I have of a railroad track with the words “End of the Line”. It lets ME know I purposely stopped here. Not that there are no more records or no more children born to that person, just that I am stopping. I can always change the picture when I start working on that line again. (I have a brick wall picture for those real brick wall folks.) When I use my End of the Line image an online tree (Ancestry etc) I put in the description spot for the photo that I have just chosen to not research this line further. Sadly, some people don’t read and have blasted me saying that person has had children. I reply with my “I’m not researching this line further.” This image let’s me stay more focused on the lines I’m working on and not let my perfectionist brain wonder ”Have I worked on her?” Also, for the online tree, I only upload the image once and then tag all to that image. This will be an easy way to see where I stopped.
I love that you have identified your perfection problem and found a visual solution for it! Thanks so much for sharing, Liz.
I don’t know if this will help you, but I always feel that I don’t have enough information (even though I have lots), to put it down in charts or tables, so it sits in my books.
That does help, Teresa. Thank you!
Hi Janine, I have trouble with how to file and store my research and so just research, leaving a mass of paper and electronic information in various unorganised files. I don’t know how to keep a standard research log, and don’t plan what I am going to research. I have looked at various storage methods, but cannot decide on which one is best, all seem to have drawbacks or be beyond my organising skills and so I do nothing. I have trees on Ancestry, My Heritage and Find my Past, but they all contain differing bits of information. I use a software product off line with some of my research, but that is not up to date. I suppose I should just use one online tree and my own offline tree to save confusion. Having said all this, I love genealogy and research whenever I have time.
Jane, thanks for sharing your challenges. The search for the perfect organizing system and research log is a futile one, in my opinion, because no such thing exists! The important thing is that you love genealogy and enjoy researching. Perhaps settling on a “good enough” system will make it easier for you keep track of your research. Something to consider. I really appreciate your helpful comment!
My biggest stall because of perfectionism is my research log(s). I have several. I started with one per family line, that became a huge monster quickly. Then I would divide it by generation. How do I put a person with his/her family before and after marriage? What if the person has multiple marriages? If I just give everyone there own log, then I am copying entries multiple times…this cycle can get so burdensome that it takes longer to log the information than find and file it, making me want to not research or not log my research. I love to make new discoveries, so I have to force myself to log the information before I move to the next item, which works to kill my joy.
It’s so true that finding information tends to be more fun than processing it, doesn’t it? I wonder if thinking about why logging the information is important to you might help you create a less labor-intensive and more sustainable process. Getting to the root of why something is important to you is something we talk about a lot on the Getting to Good Enough podcast. Thanks so much for commenting, Judi.
My family enjoys books where I mix family stories with ancestor photos, google earth locations of where people lived, and any and all stories. I have given up on having “perfect evidence”. Instead I give them the books with the fun of the identified photos and the stories that various family members have told me over the years.
I realize that I’m shortchanging future researchers. On the other hand, I draw the line at about 400-page book with minimal endnotes. However, I have my own records with as much evidence as I’ve found so far. I hope to donate copies of this raw data to several archives and let others fill in the blanks.
Finding the balance is difficult, but the family has enjoyed “eating dessert first”.
“Eating dessert first” made me chuckle. You have found the purpose of your research and that’s a great thing, in my opinion. I applaud you for letting go of any perfectionism that might have prevented you from creating those books for your family!
Judi Klein is absolutely right.
We need an advancement in software design for genealogy databases. If we plan to look for (say) a marriage application that names the couple and the four parents, we should be able to make one entry in a research calendar/plan and attach it to those six people in our existing genealogy database. When we complete the search and enter the results into the calendar, it should be able to update all six people to point to the document(s) that we have found.
Are we asking enough of our software vendors?
I wish you were a software developer, Marian!
Perfection can be such a curse!
I definitely prefer to hand enter whatever data I have. Syncing is considered to be fast and easy but it leaves out soooo many details – partial place names, other family members names pertaining to records, and so on. To me these are essential details that make research worthwhile!
There are also NO standards for Source Citations so no wonder it is so confusing. There are different methods, or just do whatever works for you. This results in very weak procedures. I do agree that Source Citations were very necessary a few short years ago when most genealogy was done by mail or going to a library and copying information for hours. Now that we are in the 21st Century all that painstaking work detailing everything can be handled very simply with a downloaded copy of the actual record, along with a PDF copy of the record index or details. It is also easy to convert the internet versions of the details to text. The actual record, PDF, and text is then included/attached to the actual person it concerns. This sounds a bit fussy but it is there in my genealogy software basically forever. I have been following this procedure for years and it certainly has paid off. Originally, I started this method due to the fact that I live in a rather rural area that is finally getting better access to the internet but high speed is still just a dream. This method also eliminates the worry about websites that can and do change owners and web addresses.
My genealogy records are mostly digital now and that works out very well. Paper has pretty much disappeared but now that I have digital files I still have the ability to print these same files or easily share digital copies with whomever. Genealogy software has also improved to the point that I hope to someday eliminate the digital files. That will only happen after all the pertinent data and photos are entered into the software.
Thanks for your comment, Faye. With regard to your first point about hand-entering data rather than syncing, I agree 100 percent. Not only do I detect more data doing it by hand, I become of aware of the data, which I don’t think I would if I just clicked a button to sync.
And with regard to your points about source citations, I’m also on board. I really appreciate your detailing your perspective! You and I are definitely on the same wavelength!
I wait to publish until I am finished, and as we all know, a genealogist is never finished! Example: I want to upload a gedcom to Ancestry for one branch of my tree, and I will, just as soon as I finish with….whoever. But then whoever has parents and siblings, and my goal line shifts!
Thanks for sharing perfectionism in action, Kim! 🙂
Hi Janine. I was intrigued by your post about your upcoming Roots Tech talk — especially the point about citations and folks giving up on doing them if getting them perfect per journal standards is too difficult and time consuming. I blogged on this very topic back in June 2013. You might find my post of assistance in tackling the subject of proper citation as an impediment to furthering one’s genealogy research. You can see the post by going here https://filiopietismprism.blogspot.com/2013/06/in-form-vs-substance-substance-reigns.html.
I also wanted you to know I have added your post to my weekly “Saturday Serendipity” post at my blog “Filiopietism Prism” https://filiopietismprism.blogspot.com I enjoy your blog and have it as one of the genealogy blogs listed on my blog home page.
John
Thanks for sharing your blog post, John, and for including this blog post in your Saturday Serendipity post and my blog on your home page! I sincerely appreciate it.
Hi, Janine, One challenge for perfectionist genealogists is that we never want to give up when we hit a totally confusing genealogy situation or a ‘brick wall’. Frustrating times! One thing I’ve learned over my research years, is that my Na was right -” a change is as good as a rest”. Letting go of a challenging stretch of research for a while, and going on to other family research gives your mind time to regroup its resources, puzzle over inconsistencies, and yes, rest. When I pick up that research again, most often I see connections and possibilities for new documents, etc. that I could not see before.
Have fun at Rootstech! I wish I could be there to hear your talk. I’m sure it will be helpful to many.
A thousand times yes, Diane! Letting a “brick wall” stymie you so you can’t work on anything else is an example of perfectionism really getting in the way. I really appreciate your sharing this because it’s one aspect of perfectionism in genealogy I hadn’t thought of!
Hello,
As a medical records auditor, the perfectionist thing just follows me home to my genealogy if I don’t keep it in check. It is important to be as accurate in genealogy as possible, but let’s face it, some “facts” we just have to accept as incomplete and go with what there is.
It is important to cite the source, even if the source is not “correct”. I interviewed many living relatives when I was still in my teens – I sourced each interview as the name of person, the date and time, and the location. I also didn’t know how to source books, so my source looks like title, author, and page number.
For me, I remind myself that not all records are available or intact, and I just do the best I can and continue to work on the family history a little at a time. Some people we are never going to learn much about because the info just simply doesn’t exist. It’s ok to go with bare bones sometimes.
Each of us needs to find an organization system that works for us. I keep a paper copy in a file in the file cabinet, and have been gradually scanning those same documents/photos into the computer, which is backed up too. Yes, that means 3 copies of the same thing. I think the organization system was the most frustrating for me, because I kept changing it based on some idea – I finally just settled on what works for me. That has saved hours and a lot of frustration.
Time is precious and while we are searching for those past family members, we need to remember that the living ones need and want us. Spend some time enjoying life now.
Ells
Sometimes I get overwhelmed about how much work there still needs to be done in my tree to make it “perfect” – citations are ok, but not always full of details. Not all my media is linked properly and I don’t want to change my filing system because of the problem of breaking links. My physical files are better than they were a year ago, but still far from perfect – I can’t always find what I need quickly. So much to do and so little time- I have days when I just want to give up completely. I still work full time and barring (God forbid) a health emergency, will continued to do so for at least another decade. That’s how perfectionism affects me and my genealogy.
I had a goal of writing the story of my husband’s grandmother’s family. 21 immigrants came to Buffalo from Germany, and I had good info on the descendents and ancestors. I decided no more research. Start writing. With that in mind, no problem writing the book – 150 pages, but the thought of putting it in publication ready, with citations, indexing etc was overwelming.. I sat on it for over a year. Then I asked two of my favorite people if they would help me with it. One very familiar with the family, the other a writer herself. They looked it over for me while I took publication classes. I put the document together in a publlshed ready copy and had 5 proofreader volunteers. Each had fresh ideas and thoughts about changes. It was surprising. I tweaked, tweaked, tweaked, and finally decided I’ll never perfect it, and just took a deep breath and had it published. Even after that, and after its published I still see something that I wish wasn’t bolded, or a date that I missed. Nothing big. But the sense of accomplishment is so wonderful. And I’ve gotten alot of very good feedback. I had to just keep remembering the original goal.
Thank you so much for sharing that, Jacqueline! I think it’s great that you sought help when you felt overwhelmed. And that you finally published, knowing that it probably wasn’t perfect, so that you could enjoy that sense of accomplishment and share you story! Good for you for keeping your eye on the prize.