What on Earth Do These Have to do with Each Other?Ever had a chore that you just kept putting off. It isn’t that arduous of a job. You just always seem to be able to procrastinate it until later.
That’s me & cleaning out a frig. And that’s me and doing certain things with my genealogy research.
As I was accomplishing my clean-the-refrigerator chore yesterday morning after procrastinating much longer than I should have, I realized the above. And started asking myself WHY do I put off doing certain genealogy chores.
Such as updating my computer database with documents, pictures, stories, etc. I’ve found associated with my ancestors. Or just organizing a bunch of documents, letters, pictures that I’ve so carefully (but haphazardly) put in some special box or boxes for handling later.
I know why I procrastinate the frig. [I just don’t like the job. Period.There’s bound to be something smelly & yucky.]
But why do I put off my genealogy research updating, cleaning, etc. I know I’m a genealogy nut. I brake for graveyards. I drool at old filing cabinets filled with “family” stuff. Tear up when reading old cards & letters associated with members of my family … or even other people’s! Pop my buttons with pride when I find a tidbit of information that proves at least some of my folks went beyond the call of duty.
So why can’t I “get off the dime” on some of these chores?!?
Ouch! But I just literally typed the reason why. I tend to look at those things as chores. And like most people, I don’t like chores all that much.
Some people can just tell themselves ‘it’s not a chore’ & task accomplished. I am NOT one of those people.
And I realized for me in some of the “biggest” areas, it’s that I’m just not sure how to do it.
How DO I organize a huge double surname file?
Do I need to keep things after I’ve documented them?
How DO I organize my genealogy computer files?
How do I document CORRECTLY a book? a census?
What about you?
Are there “chores” in genealogy you are putting off?
Is one reason you just don’t know how to start? Or do the task?
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