Genealogy Do-Over: Week One - January 1-8 - My Golden Rules

Here's my Progress this first week:

The first thing I did was create "My Golden Rules of Genealogy"

My Golden Rules of Genealogy:

1. Schedule a set time to work - no less than 30 minutes a session
2. Be consistent
3. Touch it ONCE! Put it where it should go - permanently
4. Use a research log - use Apps
5. Create To-Do lists to avoid getting distracted 
6. keep it handy as I research
7. Look at the whole picture - go deeper
8. Remember "Pickholtz' Rules" (Israel Pickholz' rules to verify data)
9. Share...and ask for help
10. Don't quit - it's OK to skip a "work-date"

I then began to think about the three topics posed this week:

1. Setting Previous Research Aside

• I decided to leave all hard copies, binders, etc. where they are
• I renamed my genealogy folder as "Hold Genealogy" and created a new one in preparation for what I find during the Do-Over.
• I created a new file on RootsMagic and started inputting info beginning with myself.

2. Preparing to Research

• Have a plan - before beginning a research session, I will determine my "problem"/objective/goal
• Have RootsMagic open
• Have Evernote open (use research template on Evernote)

3. Establishing Base Practices and Guidelines

I am adopting Thomas' suggestions (Thomas MacEntee of Hack Genealogy is the originator of this Do-Over):

• track all work, even dead ends, negative evidence and non-productive searches 
• cite sources, even if in a rudimentary manner to note the “what, where and when” information about a record 
• make the “first pass the only pass” which means slow down and spend as much time as needed on a document or source and wring every bit of information out of it.

I'm a little overwhelmed by the process. But, I'll hang in there and see how it goes.

Next Week's Topics:

 1) Setting Research Goals, 2) Conducting Self Interview, and 3) Conducting Family Interviews