Easy Way to Stay Motivated with Family History

Have you ever started an exercise program just to see it fizzle in a matter of weeks or sometimes days? When you get started your blood is pumping, you’re proud of your accomplishments, and you feel like life couldn’t get any better. Then the novelty wears off, and you have to mentally force yourself to get on that treadmill…ick. I have found that the best cure for this fizzle is to have an exercise buddy. So, I am implementing the same tactic to smooth my transition into Genealogy.

The Plan: Get a Genealogy Buddy!

Step 1: Find someone who is interested in starting or continuing their genealogy.

Step 2: Set up a regular day to talk about genealogy (I recommend once a week).

Step 3: Set up weekly goals for genealogy. For example, “Find and enter 3 sources into my file” or “Call Mom and write down her answers to 3 personal history questions”.

Step 4: Meet again and again to celebrate your success, excitement, or accomplishments. Use you buddy as an idea source or as a coach. Set a new goals each meeting.

Step 5: Do something fun and exciting once a month to recommit yourselves to the work. You can go out to eat, visit the Family History Center, or visit a family member you haven’t seen for a while.

I have just begun this process and I am already starting to feel the fizzle fade away. I’ll keep you posted.

Best of Luck!