I am so ready for a new 30 x 30 challenge in which I commit to doing 30 minutes of genealogy research for the 30 days of June. Ordinarily, I would declare a 30 x 30 challenge closer to the first of the month, but since it’s the start of Memorial Day weekend, I thought you might want to plan ahead. Let me know in the comments if you’d like to join in on the challenge!
I had a really successful 30 x 30 in April and I had a great start in May, but once I started traveling on May 11 (I went to Walla Walla, Washington, to visit my dad), I fell off the wagon and I haven’t researched since. Having a challenge going is enough for me to elevate genealogy research on my daily task list.
I find that when I research daily–even if only for a few minutes–I stay in touch with my research and researching is easier. (I wrote a post about the value of daily research a few years ago.) Because my time is limited, I tend to set a timer for 30 minutes to keep me from getting lost in the research. (I dream of the day I’m retired and can research all day if I want!)
I’m looking forward to getting back to daily research. I hope you’ll join me!
Patti Cancellier says
I’ll join you on the challenge, Janine. I recently took on, along with my brother, my mom’s genealogy research. I’m finding it hard to make the time to do anything. Maybe the 30 x30 challenge will help me get a habit started.
Janine Adams says
What?!? I’m so excited, Patti. You and I need to talk. (And for folks reading this, Patti and I have been friends for almost 40 years.)
Patti Cancellier says
Love to Janine. You know my mother and brother subscribe to this blog. And I think my brother purchased some of your products.
Janine Adams says
I noticed your brother’s name among the purchasers! I’ll text you and we can schedule a call.
Janet says
Heck, yes!
Janine Adams says
Excellent, Janet!
David Hopper says
Seem to be doing it in any event so why not try a formal approach.
Janine Adams says
There you go. It’s always nice to be a part of a community, right?
Deb says
Count me in! Janine, joining you in your 30×30’s has been such a wonderful boost in helping me be consistent in my genealogy, whether it’s research, file naming and placing, transcribing, tree cleaning, and even trying to watch at least 1 teaching video a week. Thank you for sharing this wonderful challenge with us!
Janine Adams says
That makes me so happy, Deb! Here’s to a great month.
lindafreeto says
Thank, Janine, for encouraging all of us to get back on the genealogy bandwagon. I am so ready!! Count me in.
Janine Adams says
Terrific! I’m excited to get back on the bandwagon again too!
Jerry Hereford says
I am in. I always enjoy this challenge. I will be on a trip to Morro Bay the week of June 14th. I will have my IPad so hopefully I can do something’s relating to genealogy. Still working on my carry over items from 2020.
Janine Adams says
Jerry, I hope you have a fun trip and I’m excited you’re bringing the 30 x 30 challenge with you!
Karen Burke says
I haven’t done any genealogy in May. This will get me going again. Today I created 3 memorial pages on Fold3.
Janine Adams says
Excellent, Karen! I love the jump start that the challenge provides.
Roberta Edwards says
Janine, your comment about retirement and all day research made me laugh. I have been retired for 3 years. Expanding the garden, trying something totally new (watercolor painting), not to mention what life tends to throw at you and I still run out of day before I run out of things to do. Which is actually good. But time to be more disciplined about the ancestors since my research journal has one minor entry for April and 3 for May. Poor things must think I abandoned them.
Janine Adams says
I get your point, Roberta! I think that when I retire I’ll want to spend my time with ancestors, but who knows! Glad you’re joining the challenge so your ancestors won’t feel abandoned. 🙂
Missy says
I am going to give it a go, though as I am moving house in the middle of June I think I will be happy with about 75% – 80% of the full challenge. Fingers crossed.
Janine Adams says
I’ll be very impressed if you can get 75 to 80 percent of the challenge done this month, Missy, if you’re moving house! Maybe you need to set an entirely different genealogy goal for the month. Please be kind to yourself! And good luck with the move!
Gwen Jackson says
Count me in. I plan to continue my unfinished project from the April challenge. Even with several family weddings and vacation, I plan to get in 30 minutes a day.
Janine Adams says
Excellent, Gwen. I hope it’s a great month!
Cecile Sands says
Count me in! I started outlining a project right after I read your “How I Do It” publication – I am re-organizing (or in some cases organizing in the first place!) all my digital files, including renaming them in a consistent manner. I’ve already created spreadsheet for the project which lists my goal, a second tab to track progress, steps to prepare (which I’ve done during May) and an execution plan, including my file and folder name system.
I’ve already uploaded all of my existing digital files to my genealogy Google drive (I was going to use Dropbox, but I had too many files for the free version!) and deleted the files from my external hard drive. I’ve retained my back up copies on One Drive and will be working from those. The Google Drive will serve as a back up in case something catastrophic happens. Once a surname folder is completed, I will download it to my external hard drive, keeping the One Drive as the master back up.
It will probably take more than 30 days do finish, but I figure it will get me into the habit!
Janine Adams says
Wow, Cecile, I’m so glad that How I Do It was helpful. It sounds like you have a great plan to organize your digital files! I hope the 30 x 30 is really helpful!!
Cecile Sands says
Yes, I was really inspired! This will be my first 30 x 30 challenge so I hope I am up to it! I have a lot of organizing projects in my future (lol) and I plan to use your principles to keep it going, and these 30 x 30 challenges to keep me accountable. In looking at some of my digital files, I realize the next project will need to be digitizing my paper files so that I have all of my documents in one place! Well, more than one place as I plan to have a backup or two!
Janine Adams says
That’s great, Cecile. Digitizing your paper files (and naming and filing them) is a great project to do a little at a time every day. It’ll just get easier and easier, I suspect/
Zenda says
Count me in! These 30x30s have really helped me develop a daily genealogy habit. Thanks for encouraging us!
Janine Adams says
Yay, Zenda! So glad the challenges have been helpful. Let’s hear it for the daily genealogy habit!
Bobbie Kurtz says
Perfect timing! I am going to sit down tonight and outline what I want to accomplish in June.
Janine Adams says
Fantastic, Bobbi! I hope it’s a great 30 x 30 for you!
Mary says
I will join on a modified schedule. I will be out of town for a week. I’m going to work on updating my database on my paternal line after spending 5 months updating my database on my maternal line. I’m trying to bring my lines up to the 1940 census. It is tedious work.
Janine Adams says
Tedious work is a great thing to do a little at a time! I hope ou make some great progress for the portion of June you’re able to work!
Rebecca Stanley says
I’m in! I’ve hardly done any in May so I’m hoping to get more done in June.
Also, the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree (virtual) conference will be June 11-12. (I’m attending it.) But I just wanted to let people know that it’s occurring.
Janine Adams says
Rebecca, I’m so glad you’re joining! And thank you for the reminder about the Genealogy Jamboree virtual conference! I should have blogged about it by now and I will remedy that. Hope you’re doing well. I was just thinking about you yesterday and how we meet at RootsTech 2020.
simplyleslielynn says
I’d LOVE to join you for my first 30 x 30 challenge. I just discovered the joy of genealogy.
Janine Adams says
Welcome to the challenge! You’re in for a lot of fun and discovery.
Elizabeth Handler says
I will join you this month. I like the motivator of knowing there is a community out there doing this too!
Janine Adams says
Excellent, me too, Elizabeth! I’m glad you’re joining the challenge this month.
Christy Underwood says
Janine, count me in! I have put the first 31 people from my Ahnentafel one per day of this coming month (30-31 on June 30th). I hope you do another one this summer so that I can do 32-63 then. I am going to focus on census records and sources.
Janine Adams says
Wonderful, Christy! I will definitely do another one this summer, probably in August. I love your focus.
Renita Collier says
I love the idea behind this challenge! I will join you.
Janine Adams says
Oh good, Renita! Welcome to the challenge.
Terry says
Count me in Janine! This sounds like a great idea.
Janine Adams says
Excellent, Terry!
Mary Ann Marston says
I would like to join you. This will be my first 30×30 challenge. I am excited about joining the challenge. Thanks Janine for what you do for the genealogy community.
Janine Adams says
Welcome, Mary Ann! I’m so glad to have you join you first challenge. I hope you find it really helpful.
Cheryl Schulte says
I am going to take the leap and join you for the 30 x 30 challenge which will be my first time taking part. I’ve been a genealogist since the mid-1970’s (back when everything was on paper) and I have been slowly trying to computerize everything so there is no chance I will run out of work to do! Thank you for holding this challenge. I am looking forward to participating.
Janine Adams says
Cheryl, I’m glad you’re joining the challenge! If you’re working on your goal to computerize everything, the daily effort during the challenge month should be really helpful!
Joan says
Yes, read your email and Yes, need a boost like this to get back on track.
Janine Adams says
Great, Joan. I hope this is just the boost you need!
Rebecca Corson says
Yes, I will join. Hold me accountable. That is the only way I will actually stay committed and not get side tracked.
Janine Adams says
Great, Rebecca. I’ll be posting a mid-month check in and I look forward to your report then!
Sky Redmann says
I’ll be joining again. Still working on my descendent tree for Andrew Nicol in Scotland. I learned a lot about Scottish geography and records.
Janine Adams says
That’s great, Sky! Welcome to the challenge!
PastRemembering says
I typically do a bit of research every day as I eat my breakfast prior to going to work. I yearn to have more than 15 minutes of time! I will participate and try to stay on task. I like your idea of writing down what I did each day so I can continue the next day. I flit around doing whatever strikes my mood. So count me in also!
Janine Adams says
I really hope you find that time for the extra 15 minutes a day and that it helps you a lot! You’re already ahead of the game by having a habit of daily research!