Reasons #1 to 4: Why I Have No Time for Genealogy & The Solution

Or How to Deal with Frustration Concerning Genealogy Productivity

You know I thought when I got my office cleaned  — okay, okay, it’s not 100% done yet, but it’s close! Anyway, I thought when I got my office cleaned, I’d be getting tons of genealogy done…

I do get more done but I’d be dumber than a rock to think I’m being productive.
I started reading about time management, the art of getting control of your time. Sometimes you find a solution that you DO NOT WANT TO DO. [Reminds me of dieting in more ways than one.]
Drat! These four tips led to a conclusion. I’m not happy about it. But I can’t avoid it either.

In June 2012 Jennifer posted 10 Time Management Tips. All are good. All apply in various ways but #1, 3, 4, and 6 for me are connected. I’d like to expand on her tips as they relate to “getting genealogy done”.

1. Know your priorities.
We who love genealogy & everything it entails can let genealogy become the Number ONE priority in our lives. For us, it is fun. We learn new things. And the more we learn, the more we want to learn. However, there is more to life than just genealogy. (I just heard a gasp out there somewhere. 🙂)
I think I’m okay here. But I know at times I’ve not had priorities in the correct order. Poor decisions can result when priorities are out of whack.

2. Choose your yeses carefully.
I learned this years ago. That doesn’t mean I always have controlled those “yeses”.
How about you? Do you have a “yes” that has put you in the position of NOT spending “your time more purposefully“.

3. Know how to say no.
Wish I had this Jennifer suggestion two years ago, “Thank you, but that doesn’t fit in my schedule or priorities at this time.”

I felt I couldn’t say no because I had originally volunteered for the job but no one followed up on it. A year went by and I no longer felt I had that kind of time any more nor did I really WANT to do it. I wasn’t ready with an answer so you know what happened.

4. Give yourself permission to quit.
This is the tip that truly impacted me hard. Below is the entire tip from 10 Time Management Tips.

[box type=”bio”] [/b6. Give yourself permission to quit. Just as it makes sense to stop eating when you’re full, it makes sense to stop projects when they’re no longer satisfying to you. Reevaluate any project that has been lingering on your to-do list in a state of partial completion. Ask yourself this question: Given what I know today, if I hadn’t already started this project, would I choose to start it again? If the answer is no—give yourself permission to quit. You’ll free up your time for more important projects and activities.[/box]

My “number 6” is not a project in partial completion but one that is ongoing. When I gave that “yes” it was with the caveat that I would receive assistance along the way. That it would NOT turn into a Lynda Only Project. I suspect you already know what happened. And you are right. In two years, why would I think a sudden change is about to take place.

I’ve added a personal addition: Check your decision with family members. Remember that if you ASK the question you must be ready to ACCEPT the answer. If no family members, ask someone — better if it is several someones — who know you well and have YOUR best interests at heart. Should you quit activity “X”?

They might say … “Heck Yes!!!!” with a few superlatives added.

They might say …“Hmmmmm. Yes, you probably should” and add that it was not what you signed up for, involved more work than you were told, etc. etc. They may go into supportive statements that while it is fulfilling & you seem to enjoy it, you also are paying a price for it.

They might say… “Good grief yes! I’m tired of hearing you gripe about it.” And that means you HAVE been. Griping.

They might say … “You should think about it some more” and add that you are letting people down.

There is one more reason that quit is an option.

Your health. Stress is a health hazard. Depending on how YOU handle stress. Personally, I have a two-pronged approach.

Prong #1 — Overeat. I’m a sweetaholic over the salty-carb’aholic.
Prong #2 — Insomnia. Have a hard time going to sleep and/or staying asleep.

Since my family helped me with the decision to step down from the ongoing project, I have slept better. Still, haven’t slept through the night but far better than waking up for 3-4 hours at a time.

Make sure you are picking the RIGHT thing to quit. That again is where my family members were helpful. To them, it was completely obvious.

Do what is right for you.

I am not looking forward to resigning from the project. But I realize now I must. Completing my family history as well as my husband’s is important. And the more my children find out, they want to see that completion as well.

It will do NO ONE any good to have papers galore about all the family on both sides if no one has put those pieces together.