Small Genealogy Research Projects Can Get Results

Time is a valuable commodity these days. We want to do genealogy and find our ancestors, yet we feel we don’t have enough time. I’ve been there! I’ve wondered in the past how I could do genealogy research when I didn’t have hours to devote to it. That’s why I’m sharing some tips to help you find those precious few moments to do the genealogy research that you’ve wanted.

Pick One Person/Family to do Genealogy Research

This depends on how much time you really have during the day. Starting with just one person and doing small bits and pieces might be your best option. However, you want to research a whole family first before moving on to the next generation. So look at how much time you can actually spend on research and either pick one person or one family to research.

You also need to think about what is your goal. Your ultimate goal is to finish the whole family you’re working on. However, your short term goals need to be small. Some examples can be, ” take 15 minutes to learn about Liverpool, England, take 10 minutes to read the FamilySearch Wiki page about Liverpool, England and what records it holds, take 30 minutes to search on the computer using one tip from what I’ve learned so far.” Once you’ve accomplished that goal, then set a new one based on what you found or didn’t find. Write your results down.

Print out Everything You Need

Printing all documents associated with that person allows you to take them with you wherever you go. You aren’t tied down to a certain research area because that’s where the documents are. You can literally take them anywhere. Also, you sometimes don’t know when you’re going to get another chance to do some research. Having the documents with you anywhere you go can help you grab those unexpected moments.

Organize your Research

Having a plan about how you’re going to research can save you time and energy in the long run. Write down the questions you want to answer for that ancestor. You can also write a research plan that will better streamline your search. Have a notebook with you to write down new questions or anything that you find during your search. Have a way to copy down source citations so when you do get back to your original research area you can transfer the information to its proper place. Keep everything in a bag or backpack if you need to move from one place to another throughout the day or week.

Watch your Mindset During Your Research

Your brain is going to want to tell you that this is taking to long or that it’s going too slow. So tell your brain it doesn’t matter. You’re still going to finish your one ancestor or family that you started out with. It’s very important that you manage your brain around these research projects because your brain is going to want to stop you from doing something new or hard. Don’t let it! Just do it anyway! If you want to learn more about managing your brain, then check out Jody Moore’s Podcast Better Than Happy. She will help you to think differently about your life. Trust me! She’s gold!

Reward Yourself for Doing Your Genealogy Research

Research can be long and boring sometimes. You may not find everything that you want at first. It may take longer for you to find one good document that can open up another generation or lead you to another clue. This is why rewarding yourself is very handy. It doesn’t have to be treats, but it has to be something that is worth motivating yourself to keep going. You need motivation to keep you going. So whether it’s a cookie or a walk, make the reward worth your research effort.

Conclusion

Genealogy research doesn’t have to be one big hours long session. It IS doable to break up a research session into small chunks throughout the day or week and still see results. All it takes is a different mindset, some good planning, and some motivation. If you really want to see some progress with your research, then try some of these steps this week. Take one person or family, ask one question of what you want to find, gather the necessary documents, and be ready to seize the unexpected small research moments throughout the day or week. You’ve got this!

Good luck and happy hunting!

Tiffany

P.S. If you want to use other simple genealogy activities, then go to my Instagram account @savvygenealogy and click the link in my bio for more activities to do with your family.

P.P.S If you’re looking for more genealogy organization, then check out the links below

• How I Organize my Genealogy and Save Time and Energy
• How Research Plans Help Me Get My Genealogy Goals in Shape
• How Can a Research Log Help Me Be a Better Genealogist