4 Simple Steps to Create Genealogy Habits
Have you ever found yourself with a lot of genealogy goals and projects, but not a single one done? I have! So in this article we’re talking about how to create genealogy habits that will help you accomplish your genealogy goals and projects.
I’ve been reading Atomic Habits by James Clear and I’ve noticed that the rules that he talks about in his book can work for any genealogy goal as well as any life goal. So here’s how I do it for genealogy and what I’ve learned…
The way I like to start is to brainstorm all of my genealogy goals no matter how big or small, serious or silly they are. I write them all down and then I ask myself “What else” until my brain is done.
Then I write down all of my reasons for not doing these goals. I call them obstacle thoughts because that’s what they are. They stop me from accomplishing things in my life. So basically, I’m stopping myself because of my thoughts. Again, the process is the same. I write my obstacle thoughts until there’s no more.
Now I’m ready to build a strategy that will turn these goals into habits. Habits are small 1% changes that become routine or a regular practice that have powerful results. So here are the 4 steps…
Make Genealogy Habits Obvious
I pick one goal from my brainstorm list and see what small habits will get me to that goal. And I need to start with a small enough step so that in about a week I won’t need willpower to do the first step of the new habit.
Goal=Finish my brother’s photo book on the Project Life App. I’m putting his emails and photos from his 2 year church mission into a photo book.
What small habits will get me to this goal? Set a time and amount for each day. Write to my brother questions once a week if needed to clarify.
Habit stacking is a way to make your new habit easier. This is where I connect my new habit to an already existing one. This works for either behaviors or habits we want to create.
This is the formula= I will [BEHAVIOR] at [TIME] in [LOCATION] or After I [CURRENT HABIT], I will [NEW HABIT].
For example: I will create 2 pages of the photo book at 8pm on the couch. Or after I put my daughter to bed, I will create 2 pages of the photo book in my office.
Make It Attractive
Give yourself a reward immediately for doing your new habit. It’s the anticipation of a reward, not it’s fulfillment, that drives us to take action. New habits are delayed rewards. So during the process of doing your genealogy, try giving yourself a small reward right after you accomplish your new daily habit. Brainstorm rewards that you enjoy then write a rule for that new habit and reward.
For example: After I make 5 pages of the photo book I will watch one episode of my favorite TV show.
Or while I’m creating 5 pages of the photo book on the couch, I get to watch my favorite TV show.
Make It Easy
We love the path of least resistance, right? Well, we also love the path of least effort. Laziness in not a bug, but a feature and it’s hardwired in us so it’s not going away. Basically, we need to remove the friction, not add more fuel. How can I design my life where it’s easy to do my goal?
For example: Set out a past photobook on the coffee table to remind me that when I sit on the couch I do my brother’s photobook. Or set a reminder on my phone to do the photobook.
If I know I’m researching that day, then I open up all of the computer tabs, notes, and documents that I need for that day at the beginning of the day. So it’s ready to go as soon as I sit down at the computer.
Make It Satisfying
This is where habit tracking comes in. There’s something satisfying about putting that X on a tracker. We want to continue that new habit another day. But honestly, I’ve had mixed results with tracking it because many times I forget to put that X on the tracker! So I’m doing my new habit, but just not recording it. So I have mixed feelings about trackers. But I know they work if we can stick to them.
It also helps to be accountable to someone. Yes, we’ve heard this before, but it really works. This is why I do genealogy projects on Instagram because my followers become my accountability partners. I don’t want to look foolish in front of them because I didn’t finish the job. Yes, it’s not the best motivation, but that’s where I’m at right now. And it works! So find your habit people! They could be on a Facebook group, Instagram, a best friend or family member, etc.
Last Thoughts on Genealogy Habits
So I hope all of this helps you to see that it is doable to fit your genealogy goals into your busy life right now. This is why I talk about the only way to become a better family historian is to DO genealogy. And this is one way that is helping me make those habits that I need to be an even better genealogist. So I hope you take some time to think about what you really want to accomplish with your genealogy and make some new habits this year to reach your goals.
In the meantime…good luck and happy hunting!
Tiffany
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