It’s been a minute since I’ve hosted a 30 x 30 challenge, but the new year is always a great time (in my opinion) to challenge yourself with new habits and routines. So what do you say? Would you like to commit to doing 30 minutes of genealogy research (or genealogy organizing or really anything) for 30 days in a row? You’re welcome to modify the challenge so that it suits you.
I’ve been doing periodic 30 x 30 challenges for almost a decade now (here’s the first one) and I’ve found it to be really beneficial in putting my research top of mind. Back in 2017 I wrote this post about the value of daily research.
So if you’d like to take the challenge, let me know in the comments. I’ll do a mid-month check in and an end-of-the month wrap up post. I’m still working on digitizingmy paper genealogy files (I have less file space now that I’m an apartment dweller). I hope to make some real progress in January!
Interested
Excellent! I hope your 30 days go well!
Oh for goodness sakes, I made a to do list of all (25 to start!) the things I have been putting off or really needed to get done and 8 was genealogy. And I did a nice chunk of consolidating and organizing this morning. This email could not have come at a better time.
Happy New Year!
I love serendipity! So glad this post came at the right time. Happy new year to you!
I’m ready
Excellent! Here’s to a great start to the new year!
Looking forward to this 30×30 challenge. I plan to complete at least one project!
Best wishes for a happy, healthy and productive 2025.
Gwen
I’m glad you’re participating, Gwen! Happy new year to you!
Definitely on – heading away for 8 days in middle but visiting libraries for
genealogy a bonus
Oh good, Antoinette. Have a great trip!
Interested!
Terrific!
I’m all in for this one!
Excellent! I hope you have a great month of research!
My research habits are haphazard at best, some days binging for hours, then weeks of nothing. 30 minutes is a time block I can commit to. A month of that and it will hopefully be a habit. Looking forward to this.
Yes, the consistency of daily research should be helpful. So glad you can participate!
Great timing for me! I need to get organized for a move next year. Also my son asked me to identify some people in old photos of our ancestors and I want to do that as well as provide stories about the people. I’m ready to jump in.
Happy New Year!
Starting early to organize for a move is a great idea. Happy new year to you!
I’m in!!
Excellent, Kathryn!
I’m in, too! My past year has been devoted to sorting through the “stuff” in our 3-story home of 35 years and moving to one-floor apartment living. In the process, I set aside my genealogy labors, including my blog. That’s except for the family history treasures I uncovered during the sort-out. I’m finally ready to get back into it! I’ll start with finishing that blog post I left mid-stream.
We’re living parallel lives! We bought our two-stories-plus-basement home in 1992 and moved this year to a three-bedroom apartment all on one floor. I do not miss all those stairs! I do miss the the storage space a bit, though. Have fun reinvigorating your blog!!
Yes, please—I’m in!
Terrific! I hope you have an excellent month of researching!
I am interested.
Great, Diane. I hope you find the challenge helpful!
I need a boost with guidance. I am in!
Excellent! It’s always nice when you’re part of a group challenge!
I need this so count me in!
Excellent, Brenda. I hope you have a great 30 days of researching!
What a great way to start out 2024. I’m in!
Fantastic! I hope 2025 is very good to you!
I am in. I hope to finish my census research. I have the 1790 and 1800 census to complete. So far I am not having much luck in finding my ancestors in the 1800 census.
Jerry, I admire your diligence with your census research! I hope you have a great month and finish it up.
What a great way to start out 2025.
Thanks, Carol! I hope you have a great research month!
Can’t wait to begin the challenge!
Ready, set, go! Wishing you much success.
I’m really interested in joining in as I have just started a massive overhaul of my tree. Happy New Year from a very windy UK. Lin Chapmam at
Daily research will be so good for your tree overhaul. Have a great month!
Over Christmas I have been studying the Pomodoro Method to try and help me stop going off at a tangent in my research, so this is perfect timing for me. Thank you
Excellent! Remember this challenge is yours to adapt. So you might commit to a single Pomodoro or two Pomodors each day. I find having the timer going makes me so much more focused.
I’m in too, just what l need, thank you
Excellent! Happy you’re joining the challenge, Anne.
I’m in, Janine! Thanks for doing this again.
You’re so welcome, Laurie. Have a great month!
I’m in!
Terrific, Carol!
I’m in! I’ve been slowly plodding through generations to clean up sources in my software. This year, I’m aiming for one generation per month – I’ve already completed generation 4, but have 12 generations in my maternal line. I hope this challenge will help me get on the right track!
I think the 15 hours you’ll get if you do 30 minutes a day will be really helpful, Linda! And the daily effort will help you stay on track. Glad you’re in!
I am interested in the organizing aspect. I start and then give up. Any pointers?
I think if you committed to working on organizing your research for 30 minutes a day for a month, you’d get past that hump. Daily effort can help create habits. And once you’re organized, the daily habit of filing information (whether paper or digital) at the end of every research session will help you stay organized!
Oh, yes! I am in. I just started working on a line that begins with a 1739 arrival in Pennsylvania. I am gathering documents and doing source citations on this first immigrant. I’d like to work down the line as much as I can in January.
That sounds like a fun project, Mary!
I’m in. I keep promising myself that I will spend as much time on my genealogy as I do on others’. This sounds like a good way to start.
That’s a great goal! Enjoy your genealogy this month!
Count me in! I started this month by spending the time searching for my great grandfather in the 1900 census (again). Alas, he is still MIA.
Good luck with your census research. Just think how great it will be when you eventually find him!!
I have had a very difficult past 12 months or so and a lot of things were stopped, including my family history, since I moved I haven’t looked at it, and a lot of it is disorganised and a mess, so I definitely want to use this month to get back on track and this challenge will be the perfect way to do it!
Daily research should help you get back on track. I hope it feels great! I’m glad you’re joining the challenge.
I am in. When I opt in I do more research. Thanks
I’m so glad you find the challenge helpful, David!
I’m going to concentrate on verifying the info/sources that I inherited from past family members. Cleaning up to hand it down to my children.
That’s such valuable work, Ann. And it always feels so good to verify those sources. Enjoy.
Interested
Excellent! Welcome!
I’m in!
Great. Have a great research month!
Well, I was all for doing 30 minutes a day but considering where we’re at in the month, I’m aiming for a total of 15 hours this month. I’m in!
Awesome! I hope you have some great success!