Genealogy Planning for 2020

Photo by Denise Karis on Unsplash

​We’re closing out the second week of January 2020…at this rate we’ll be saying hello to February before we know it!  The sooner we’re done with this winter the better.  However, in fairness to the cold and snow, I often have more opportunities to do indoor projects activities like planning my year of genealogy.  That’s right resolutions, goals, whatever you call them, they are there hidden behind the fun of family history research and meeting of relatives.  As you can image there are several sights with ideas and tips for us to identify and complete in our goals.  Check it out.

Have you thought about what you want to accomplish in your family history research and family story this year?  I’ve decided that my priority needs to be to scan all documents and pictures that I do not have in a digital format yet.  Yikes!  Considering I started prior my research prior to personal computer, this is a bit overwhelming.  However, I’m challenging myself to do it bit by bit focusing on the molehill instead of the mountain.  Wish me luck! 
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If you haven’t established your genealogy plans for the year, perhaps some of these articles will inspire you.  I prefer to think of plans or goals instead of resolutions.  Resolutions almost feel doomed before they are started given their track record.  A goal or plan can be revised, and you can still make forward progress.

Family Tree Magazine Genealogy Research Plan
Sunny Jane Morton has provided ideas for monthly activities to take you through the entire year.  Family Tree Magazine provides this list as a download for ease of use.  The list is quite extensive so choose three things that you really want to complete and do those first.  And then pick three more.  And don’t get hung up on what activities they have listed in each month.  If you want to do May’s ideas in January, then go for it.
 
Organize Your Family History
Janine Adams’ blog provides her thoughts on setting goals for 202 by providing you examples of her goals for this year compared to ones she made in 2015.  Spoiler alert: While the 2015 goals were detailed and measurable, they were largely ignored because of their complexity.  I like her idea of clearly identifying a specific item to complete.  She’s also incorporated ideas for daily or weekly activities that don’t seem overwhelming but would help your genealogy improve.

Setting SMART Genealogy Research Goals
Written by Brenda for LegacyTree Genealogists a few years ago, this article provides clear examples when using the SMART technique to establish your genealogy goals.  It’s another perspective for capturing what you’d like to accomplish this year.
I hope these sites inspire you to pick two or three key activities that you plan to accomplish this year.  Sometimes it is small accomplishments that help us move our projects forward.  Yesterday I finally scanned all my Christmas pictures that I’ve received from friends and family in the past 10 years.  It was a huge relief and now I know I have a digital copy available (and safely backed up).  These current pictures will be history in 50 years…as possibly will we!  What a thought! Good luck with your goal setting efforts!
 
“A Goal without a plan is just a wish.”
--Antoine de Saint Exupery