When do you find time to work on your family history?

When do you tend to be able to carve out the most time to work on your research?
Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall?
Weekdays or weekends?
Days or evenings?

Is it a challenge to make the time, or are you one who has a scheduled time that you're committed to?

Tags: research, tips

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Daphne Garrison Stendal on July 24, 2009 at 10:12pm

I have a full time job, a(n) hour commute each way, and a 1 year old. I do a little after she goes to bed, and sneak some in around family time. Oh, and when my boss isn't looking, I sometimes sneak onto Ancestry when I should be working. :-)

Permalink Reply by Lisa Louise Cooke on July 24, 2009 at 11:05pm

Daphne, I remember those days several years ago! But it's sure nice to have something fun you can sneak in here and there. Love your honesty :-)

Permalink Reply by Lynn Palermo on July 29, 2009 at 10:40pm

Most evenings, I have replaced watching TV with research. My kids are teens so once they are done their activites for the day the evenings are usually mine.

Permalink Reply by Lisa Louise Cooke on July 29, 2009 at 10:43pm

Lynn - And genealogy is so much better for your brain than TV :-) When my kids hit their teens my research definitely benefited.

And Daphne, you have that to look forward to!

Permalink Reply by Daphne Garrison Stendal on July 30, 2009 at 9:03am

Well, that sounds a lot better than the OTHER things I've heard I have to look forward to when she hits her teens. :-)

Permalink Reply by Jenna on August 4, 2009 at 8:29pm

Evenings and weekends I can usually squeeze in some time. My son starts college in 25 days so I am expecting to have more time to devote to this time-consuming hobby!

Permalink Reply by Lisa Louise Cooke on August 4, 2009 at 8:34pm

Jenna, my middle and youngest daughters are both heading off to college in 2 weeks - maybe we'll both get a little more done soon! It's nice to have something fun to do with an empty nest looming.

Permalink Reply by Robert Callahan on August 8, 2009 at 10:56pm

I work at day and have some free time at night. I guess I have the best of both worlds at night and can watch/listen to something on TV and work on my family stuff on my laptop. So I guess that means I probably do some work almost every night.

Permalink Reply by Victor G Carre on August 19, 2009 at 8:04pm

I do a lot of on-line research in the evenings but working full time makes it difficult to research in the "field." I have a long To-Do list of research items I need to tackle at the University library (microfilm newspapers), historical society library (local history books, surname index, city directories, etc.), and Family History Center (lots of films to order). I try to make one or two field trips a month but even that schedule can be hard to maintain. Ah well, that's why it is such a great hoby, it sure keeps you busy!

Permalink Reply by Lisa Louise Cooke on August 19, 2009 at 8:59pm

I totally agree with you Victor - one of genealogy's strength is that you really can't run out of things to do! You sound pretty organized with your to-do list.

Permalink Reply by Victor G Carre on August 20, 2009 at 6:05am

Organized! Ha Ha Ha. You should see my desk. I have actually used some of your tips for getting my computers files organized but I am forever looking for that lost piece of paper that I know I placed on my desk. Or was the in a notebook. No, it was in a file folder. No, I will just print out another copy...

Permalink Reply by Eric Gomes on October 25, 2009 at 10:43pm

Honestly, my genealogy gets done whenever I find time... I too work full time, have a one-year-old at home and have an extended family that always needs something done... Usually, my genealogy research gets done late at night (if I don't fall asleep on the keyboard). =)

p.s., in the June Podcast when you responded to listener email, your daughter did in fact pronounce my last name correct. Thanks... =)

Eric Gomes