Do-Over or in my case Go-Over, Cycle 2 end of week 1

In review, this weeks topics were: 1) Setting Previous Research Aside, 2) Preparing to Research, and 3) Establishing Base Practices and Guidelines

Wow! What a week! Here is what I got accomplished:

Topic 1) Setting Previous Research Aside
 Over the past week I made the decision that I am going to do a Go-Over instead of a Do-Over and am hoping this is the right decision for me - we will see.  In the case of some of my ancestor files, I may need to dump what I have  - but in other files I have solid documentation and don't want to redo. I did upgrade to from Rootsmagic4 to Rootsmagic7 and then proceeded to color code all of my entries in red - as I go over a family file, I will then change the color.

Topic 2) Preparing to Research
 One of the first things I did was figure out how I wanted to organize my digital files, including how to label digital documents,  and I hope my new system will work for me.  I also set up notebooks in Onenote, they may still need some tweaking, as I am fairly new to the program. Not surprisingly, my habit of procrastination and disorganization extends to my genealogy hobby - I spent hours emptying the genealogy folder in my email inbox and moving items to the proper surname folder.  I also gathered up all my miscellaneous paper documents and notes that had not yet been filed and put them in the proper files. I previously had reorganized my paper files and, so far, am happy with them. I am leaning towards using Thomas MacEntee's excel research log.  Using any log will be a challenge for me and I definitely need to form some new, better, habits. I backed up my laptop to my external hard drive and tonight I opened a dropbox account, which I need to learn how to use.

Topic 3)Establishing Base Practices and Guidelines

This week, I started with my file on my husband and myself, scanned all of the documents that I have, updated our file in Rootsmagic and made sure all of the citations were included.  I wrote the citations on the front side of my paper copies. I still need to figure out the most reasonable way to digitize our negatives and slides.

Hopefully, the hours I spent on organizing things will help me proceed in a more efficient manner.  Although, I still have to fight not to follow the BSO (Bright Shiny Objects) and stay focused.  I was only able to go through mine and my husbands family file this week but hope to work through at both of our parents files next week. Overall, I would call it a successful week.

Genealogy Do-Over Cycle 2

Family history has been an interest of mine that I have pursued on and off for many long years and I am now in a season of my life that affords me more time to devote to this endeavor.  In the past, I have not always used effective methods in my research or cited my sources properly. When I found out that Thomas MacEntee, founder of Geneabloggers online community, was going to do a "Do-Over" in his research and invited others to join him, I thought that it would be a good time to re-evaluate my past research and make sure I have documented and properly cited all entries in my family tree.  I found  the "Do-Over" facebook group after they were several weeks into it and so just lurked and gathered helpful information.  They have now finished the first cyle of 13 weeks and Thomas started a second cycle yesterday.  The idea behind the "Do-Over" is to set aside previous research and methods and develop new more effective methods and solid research standards.  Each week Thomas will share topics to focus on and by the end of the 13 weeks the goal is to have establish some new solid research habits.  If you are interested in participating in the "Do-Over", you can seek out the group page on facebook or read about it at:
http://www.geneabloggers.com/genealogy-doover-week-1-cycle-2-39-april-2015/ 
Even if you are just getting started in family research, the group can help you start off on solid footing.

Topics for the first week are:
1) Setting Previous Research Aside

All of my paper files will be filed into the file cabinet and will only be pulled out when I am ready to enter that particular family group into Rootsmagic. (I am keeping my tree up on ancestry.com in the case of any matches come through DNA there.  I will update as I continue in my research and may replace it eventually.)

I will settle on a preferred filing system for both digital and paper files ( I have found the organized genealogist facebook page full of possible ideas)

2) Preparing to Research

 I have already upgraded my Rootsmagic genealogy software to the most recent edition.

I will choose a research log and document checklist to use and purpose to use them each time I conduct research.

I will learn to use onenote more effectively and set up notebooks for my future research and have it open for note taking each time I conduct research.


3) Establishing Base Practices and Guidelines

I will keep Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills and The BCG Genealogical Standards Manual by The Board for Certification of Genealogists at hand to help me develop proper standards of research and citation.

I will cite items as they come into my possession and make sure they are scanned and filed properly.

I will download any sources that I find online along with citation notes in the proper digital file.