Genealogy with Limited Time

Photo by Andrik Langfield on Unsplash

Here we are with two months left in 2023. Typically, this time of the year gets busy with holiday planning, holiday get-togethers and other fun distractions from genealogy. And that is ok. We should spend time with family and friends when we can. Our family research might take a back burner but here are some ideas to help us fit genealogy into this busy time. Let’s look.

I think these next two months are a great time to regroup and tidy up our family research. While some of these link target things to do in January, I think these are the kind of activities that you can fit into a busy schedule to help you hit the ground running in January.
 
10 "Must-Do" Genealogy Projects for January | Ancestral Findings
 
Among these “Must-Do” Genealogy Projects is Put Away Loose Genealogy Items. I have a box of ‘in progress’ research. We all get in the groove of researching but the next step is to make sure we enter the data into our family trees and organize it in the correct files, whether digital or file folders. Often, we go on to the next clue, the next family line without really vetting the data that we have found.  We all have time to take one piece of research and properly organize it.
 
6 Genealogy Projects You Can Do From Your Couch (familytreemagazine.com)
Among the ideas in this blog, was to do family history related crafts with grandkids or relatives.  As we entertain family, think about ways that you can engage them. Perhaps you look through photos together and label them. Or tell them stories you remember about your grandparents and relatives. Or maybe it is time to share those stories about you.
 
Genealogy Made Easy: 17 Ideas under 20 Minutes (familysearch.org)
This article has many ideas for when you are short on time but want to do something genealogical or family history related.
 
Keep a research journal.
When I’m working on a client’s work, I keep a research journal so that I know what I’ve researched, where and why. This includes noting if I’ve searched somewhere and didn’t find anything. I wish I could say that I always do this for myself. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Even if you don’t keep a journal, it is important to jot down your thoughts regarding a particular find, including what you think it means and what steps you’d like to take next.
 
Transcribe and/or Translate a Document
Pick one document that you’ve always wanted to transcribe or translate. And do it! Sometimes we get so bogged down with all the documents and information that we need to extract. Simplify by choosing one thing we can make progress.
 
Write a short story or memory.
Take a little time to write down a story or memory to share. Don’t fuss—just get the words down on paper. Give yourself ten or twenty minutes to put words on paper or digital.
 
I hope that the next couple of months will find you celebrating with family and friends. If you have the urge to work on your family history, I hope these activities help you make the most of your time. Have fun!