I hit the genealogical doldrums in the first quarter of 2016. There were a variety of reasons, the top of the list being our standard poodle puppy, Bix, whom we brought home mid-December 2015. But there were other competing obligations, including my business and my home and family.
Bix is now five months old and doesn’t require constant supervision. Things have settled back into routines and I have time again to do some research. But I find myself unexcited and it’s feeling hard to get started again.
This morning I sat down and thought about what it would take to reignite that spark. I started by making a little list of what I love about genealogy research:
- Playing detective
- The thrill the hunt
- The reward of making discoveries
- The stimulation of my curiosity constantly being tweaked
But so much time has gone by that I’ve lost the itch and I’m having trouble remembering what I’m curious about. I have a genealogy to-do list, but nothing’s exciting me.
Then I realized what always sparks action for me: A deadline. I’m going to visit my father in Washington state in two weeks. He’s always interested in what I can tell him about his family history. So I’m going to try to come up with some sort of discovery to share with him or create some sort of narrative or timeline that he might find interesting.
With that in mind, I’m going to set aside time on my calendar to do some genealogy research in an effort to come up with some sort of gift to share with my dad when I see him in two short weeks.
Suddenly there’s some urgency and my imagination is starting to spark a little. Hooray!
Some other strategies I came up with to reignite the spark include:
- Read genealogy blogs to get my creative juices flowing.
- Focus on some genealogy Facebook groups to see what others are reading about.
- Do another 30 x 30 challenge so I do something at least daily. Or maybe I need to set myself up for success and make it 15 x 15. (Fifteen minutes of research for 15 days straight.)
- Let doing genealogy research be a reward for working on my still-unfinished income taxes.
Now I’m feeling like I’m going to get some research done in the next few days. That feels so much better! I’ll report back next week and let you know how it goes.
Have you ever had the doldrums with your research? How did you reignite your spark?
Photo by Shivenis via Flickr. Used under Creative Commons License.
Roberta Mueth Martin says
April 1, 2016 at 10:47 amLol. I am the same way. I thrive on deadlines! So I frequently plan Genealogy trips so I have a new goal. It’s a win-win
Janine Adams says
April 1, 2016 at 9:11 pmRoberta, that’s a great strategy! I have a research trip in August that will provide my next deadline after my upcoming trip. We’re two peas in a pod.
ancestorarchaeology says
April 1, 2016 at 12:56 pmThanks Janine! I’m feeling a bit burned out myself! On my end it’s the overwhelming pile of organizational “must do’s” that I just don’t want to do, coupled with the lack of anything “exciting” to research. (Gasp!) Oh, and then there’s the taxes on my end too …..
Janine Adams says
April 1, 2016 at 9:12 pmWith those organizational must-dos, sometimes it can be effective to use a timer and just work on them for 10 or 15 minutes, the move on to something more enjoyable. They’ll eventually get done! Thanks for commenting.
Jana Last says
April 1, 2016 at 8:29 pmJanine,
I want to let you know that two of your blog posts are listed in today’s Fab Finds post at http://janasgenealogyandfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/2016/04/follow-friday-fab-finds-for-april-1-2016.html
Have a great weekend!
Janine Adams says
April 1, 2016 at 9:13 pmThank you so much for the honor, Jana! I hope you have a good weekend too.
Nancy says
April 1, 2016 at 9:14 pmI can so identify with your doldrums. I had lots of interruptions to research last year, the worst of which was surgery, and have found it hard to dive back in. I like your list of what you love about genealogy and your strategies to begin again. I’ll give them some thought and maybe it will help me move forward. Thanks for the suggestions.
Janine Adams says
April 4, 2016 at 11:42 amNancy, I’m glad you found the post helpful! I hope you can reignite the spark!
Maree Croxon says
April 1, 2016 at 11:32 pmMy burnt out lately was the death of my father and then having to be executor of his will he died July, 2015 and I have now started a uni course but I always get back there just going to take a little longer. Oh and surgery.
Janine Adams says
April 4, 2016 at 11:43 amMaree, sympathies on the loss of your father. My mother died in June 2015, so I completely understand how that can throw you off course. Wishing you a speedy return to the genealogy research you love.
Nicole says
April 2, 2016 at 12:58 amIt’s interesting to hear what motivates genealogists! I can totally relate with all of those, especially deadlines for sharing with others.
Janine Adams says
April 4, 2016 at 11:44 amGlad you found the post interesting, Nicole! I’ve been loving the comments. Thanks for commenting!