I hate it when I let a backlog of downloaded files build up. I know that downloading a file without gleaning the facts from it and adding it to my genealogy software does not further my research. And yet I struggle with backlogs. My most recent post on my struggle was in October 2018. That fall, I vowed to eliminate my backlog and I succeeded in doing it, sort of. I took a group of deeds I couldn’t face and moved them to a foldern unprocessed. But otherwise, I processed 79 downloaded documents by making backlog-busting my research focus.
Well, the backlog has built up again and it’s time to address it. I have 78 documents languishing in my Surnames folder, waiting to be processed and filed in their appropriate folders. I plan to announce an August 30 x 30 challenge next week and my focus in August will be to get rid of that backlog. Two years ago, I created a spreadsheet in which I kept a running tally of the numbers of files I needed to process. I found updating it every session to be quite rewarding. So I think I’ll employ that strategy again.
One reason for my large backlog is that I went on a sprint of newspaper research in June and July. I had a seven-day free trial of newspapers.com and then bought a 30-day subscription that expired July 22. I found myself downloading, but not necessarily processing, a bunch of newspaper articles. (I did process some of them, though!)
In organizing, we refer to this as backsliding. I know how to process documents. I actually enjoy processing documents. But when I let a backlog build up it quickly gets overwhelming and less enjoyable. I find that focusing on the backlog to get it back to zero brings me great peace of mind.
In order to succeed at getting rid of my backlog, I know I have to avoid downloading any new documents while I’m focused on the backlog. Any documents I do download, I must commit to processing in the same research session. That way the number of documents left to process goes down every day. (Come to think about it, that’s not unlike dealing with physical clutter, credit card debt or any number of other scenarios!)
I bet I’m not the only one dealing with a backlog of genealogy documents (either digital or paper) that have been collected but not dealt with. If you have a backlog, feel free to join me in backlog busting in August!
For more in-depth information on how I organize my own genealogy, including dealing with my backlog, check out How I Do It: A Professional Organizer’s Genealogy Workflow, a 37-page downloadable pdf published in 2021 and available for $19.99.
I’ve had the same problem, sometimes due to an approaching expiration date for a membership. Sometimes it’s from working too late into the night and just getting tired of typing. Last week I found several sources for facts on someone in my Reunion database that had only a URL and the name of the image that I saved on my disk. It’s too bad we can’t have spare pairs of eyes and hands for use in those wee hours.
I hear you! I never have the stamina for late-night researching. I can only imagine what a mess I’d leave if I did! Your comment is making me want to go back to my systematic review of all my Reunion source documents. Maybe after I get my backlog taken care of!
I have a huge backlog as well…plus creating updating citations. I use RootsMagic and am waiting for V8 as doing all that work will be waaaay easier than it is with the current modal structure. At this point, however, I may just have to give in and do it regardless, knowing I’ll have to click the mouse countless times. I love RM for so much, which is why I stick with it.
If you love RM, you must be so excited for the update! I hope it comes soon and that it makes you love RM even more.