Back in August 2015, I created a 30 x 30 challenge, to challenge myself and my readers to doing at least 30 minutes of genealogy research for 30 days in a row. It was a great success for me personally.

I did another one in January 2016, but it was a failure. I blame the fact that I had a ten-week-old puppy, which is pretty much the biggest distraction I can imagine. I waited until November 2016 for the next and then did one this year in March. Those last two were great.

Here it is only two months since the end of my last challenge and I’m declaring another one. Here’s why:

• I find when I don’t have a challenge going, it’s easy for me to put genealogy research on the back burner. A 30 x 30 challenge keeps genealogy front of mind.
• Having accountability is really helpful. I’m the type of person who likes to live up to my public commitments.
• Having an ending point helps keep me going–I think I’d give up if I declared I was going to do 30 minutes of genealogy research a day for the rest of my life.

In March, I added the commitment to log my research to the challenge. I’ll do that in June as well. And I’m going to up the commitment by trying to end each session with next steps, so I never have to spend time wondering what to work on. Having next steps is a habit I’d like to create and there’s no better way to create a habit than by doing that thing daily until it becomes automatic.

I’ll post updates a few times throughout the month. I’m excited to get started!

Will you join me? There are no rules except that for the month of June you make some kind of commitment to do something related to genealogy. Who’s in?

On March 1, I started a 30 x 30 challenge in which I vowed to do at least 30 minutes of genealogy research every day for 30 days. I was delighted that a number of you said you were going to do it too!

So I thought I’d check in and see how it’s going. I’m delighted to say that I have managed, so far, to keep my commitment. I had dicey day where I fell asleep on the couch then woke up at 11 pm and realized I hadn’t done my research. If it weren’t for the public accountability of the 30 x 30 project, there’s no way I would have done it. But thanks to the challenge, I dragged myself to my home office, set a timer and did 30 minutes of transcription.

For me, the hardest part of the challenge is to remember to do the research. I try to put it on my daily task list. But some days that list holds more sway than others.

How about you? I’d love to hear about your progress and about any challenges you’ve encountered.

Unfortunately, so far this year, genealogy research hasn’t been a top priority. The beginning of the calendar is typically a busy time for me as a professional organizer. People love to get organized at the beginning of the year and 2017 has been no exception. I took a couple of trips in February (including RootsTech!) and wrote and published with Brooks Duncan The Paperless Genealogy Guide. So I’ve been busy. And as a result, with the exception of the time I spent at the Family History Library in February, I haven’t had a chance to do a whole lot of genealogy research.

The antidote to that, for me, is to start a new 30 x 30 challenge in which I pledge to do at least 30 minutes of research 30 days in a row. I’m starting today. Will you join me? If you’d like, comment here and let me know you’re in. Then feel free to post your progress.

Time management is really priority management, isn’t it? When I do a 30 x 30 challenge, family history research becomes a priority because I don’t like to fail challenges. Add to it the accountability of posting this in public and I hope I’m setting myself up for success. (It didn’t work so well in January 2016, though.)

I’m going to add one thing to this challenge: In addition to doing 30 minutes of research daily, I pledge to document that research in a research log each and every session. That should really help me develop the habit of using a research log (one of my 2017 genealogy goals). Because daily habits are the easiest habits to form. (If you’re interested in creating the research log habit too, feel free to join my Facebook group, Genealogy Research Loggers!)

I’ll do a mid-month update. I look forward to seeing if anyone else is up for March 30 x 30 challenge!