We’ve all been there—starting a family history project full of enthusiasm, only to feel overwhelmed by names and dates. This New Year, why not make a resolution for your family history work? Dive into your roots and preserve precious memories for future generations. Start the year by creating a meaningful connection to your family’s past while making history come alive for those to come.
9 Meaningful Family History Resolutions
1. Start Journaling Your Family History
Dedicate a notebook or create a digital journal to record your family history journey. Write about your research goals, interesting finds, and the emotions tied to your discoveries. Consider adding a weekly or monthly reflection on what you’ve learned. Storied’s digital platform offers an excellent space to log stories and keep them organized alongside your family tree.
Resolution: Create and maintain a regular journaling practice for your family history research.
How to Start:
- Choose your preferred format (digital or paper journal)
- Set aside specific times for writing and reflection
- Record both facts and personal reactions to discoveries
- Include images of records and newspaper clippings
- Document questions and theories as they arise
Pro Tip: Create themed journal entries that focus on different aspects of your research – brick walls, new finds, or writing ideas.
Here is an example of one I created on Storied called Research Notes of William Warder Hamilton.
Let’s Reflect: How do you currently process your genealogy discoveries? Consider how regular journaling might help you spot patterns or connections you might otherwise miss.
2. Digitize Family Photos
Imagine your family’s old photo albums, but instead of being tucked away on a shelf, they’re part of a vibrant, digital archive where each image is tied to its rightful place in your family tree. This approach ensures not just preservation but a deeper understanding of who your ancestors were, the lives they lived, and the stories that shaped your family. It’s a legacy that bridges the past and the future, keeping memories alive for generations.
Resolution: Create a comprehensive and organized digital photo collection.
How to Start:
- Gather family photos for digitization
- Use a scanner or smartphone app for high-quality captures
- Upload photos directly to Storied
- Tag family members, dates, and locations
- Add detailed descriptions and memories
Pro Tip: Work in small batches of 5-10 photos at a time. For each photo, pause to record any family stories or memories associated with it before moving to the next one. This methodical approach helps preserve the context that might otherwise be lost.
Let’s Reflect: What stories do your family photos tell? Consider how combining photos with newspaper clippings in Storied can provide richer context for your family’s history.
Here is a story I wrote that includes a newspaper clipping called A Love Match.
3. Write One Family Story a Month
Set a goal to write 12 family stories this year. Start with simple, short narratives and gradually build up to more detailed accounts. Include photos, records, and anecdotes to bring the stories to life. Storied’s writing tools make it easy to combine research and storytelling into one seamless project.
Resolution: Create twelve well-crafted family stories this year, combining newspaper research, photos, audio files, and more.
How to Start:
- Choose one ancestor or family event to focus on each month
- Gather related newspaper articles, photos, and documents
- Use Storied’s writing tools to craft your narrative
- Include direct quotes from newspaper coverage
- Add context about the time period and location
- Connect the story to the people in your family tree in Storied
Pro Tip: Start each month by creating a story outline in Storied. As you discover new newspaper articles or photos throughout the month, add them directly to your draft, letting the story grow organically.
Let’s Reflect: Which family story are you most eager to tell? Begin with a story that excites you – your enthusiasm will show in your writing.
4. Interview a Relative
Every family story matters, and our older relatives hold precious memories that could be lost forever if we don’t capture them. By interviewing family members about their experiences, we not only preserve priceless stories for future generations but also gain valuable clues that can enhance our genealogical research.
Resolution: Conduct and document meaningful family interviews that capture personal memories and perspectives.
How to Start:
- Identify relatives to interview
- Create a customized question list
- Schedule interview sessions (in-person or virtual)
- Record the conversation with permission
- Upload the recording and transcription to Storied
- Tag people, places, and dates mentioned
Pro Tip: Before each interview, search for newspaper articles about events your relative might remember. These can help spark memories and provide historical context for their stories.
Let’s Reflect: Which relative’s stories do you most want to preserve? Consider using a list of questions or our Storied Starters to help when interviewing loved ones.
5. Break Through a Brick Wall
Sometimes, the most stubborn family history mysteries can be solved by taking a fresh look at old records or exploring new research paths. Breaking through a genealogical brick wall often requires combining multiple sources – from newspaper archives and census records to DNA matches and family interviews – to finally uncover that missing ancestor or untangle a family connection.
Resolution: Solve one significant family history mystery using collaborative research and detailed documentation.
How to Start:
- Create a group on Storied for your brick wall research
- Document all known facts and sources
- List specific research questions to investigate
- Upload relevant newspaper clippings and documents
- Invite family members to collaborate
- Track new theories and findings
Pro Tip: Connect discovered relationships to your family tree, even those non-familial relationships!
Let’s Reflect: What’s your most intriguing family mystery? Consider how pooling knowledge with relatives through a Storied group might lead to unexpected breakthroughs.
6. Join a Family History Group
Connect with others who share your passion for genealogy by joining online groups. Platforms like Facebook have genealogy communities, and Storied’s group feature allows you to collaborate with extended family members or genealogy enthusiasts on shared projects.
Resolution: Build meaningful connections with other researchers while expanding your genealogical knowledge and resources.
How to Start:
- Begin with local genealogical societies in your area
- Search social media platforms using specific terms related to your research interests
- Evaluate group activity before committing
- Join workshops and challenges
- Start small by introducing yourself
Pro Tip: Join the Storied Facebook Group, The Storied Connection, where group members can share their latest discoveries and stories, ask questions, and more.
Let’s Reflect: How might collaboration enhance your research? Consider how sharing newspaper findings and family stories could lead to unexpected connections and discoveries.
7. Organize Your Research
Dedicate time to turn scattered genealogy files into a well-organized digital collection that connects documents, photos, newspaper findings, and more.
Resolution: Create a systematic organization system for all your family history research.
How to Start:
- Review your current research materials
- Create a consistent naming system
- Upload and tag newspaper clippings, photos, documents, and more
- Add research notes and citations
Pro Tip: Set aside one hour each week for organization. Focus on a single family line or record type each session. If you use Storied, make sure everything is properly tagged to people.
Let’s Reflect: How much time do you lose searching for specific documents or photos? Consider how a well-organized digital system could streamline your research process.
8. Take a DNA Test
If you haven’t yet, consider taking a DNA test to unlock new connections and insights about your heritage and relatives.
Resolution: Enhance your family history research through DNA testing and analysis.
How to Start:
- Choose and take a DNA test
- Compare matches with your family tree
- Create research notes for potential connections
- Document shared matches and relationships
Pro Tip: Your DNA results aren’t just numbers and percentages – they’re the opening chapters of fascinating family stories waiting to be told. Combine those ethnicity estimates with your research and family tales to paint a more colorful picture of where your ancestors came from and how their journeys shaped your family’s story today.
Let’s Reflect: How might DNA testing fill gaps in your family story? Consider how combining genetic evidence with traditional research could validate or expand your family tree.
For ideas on how to write your DNA stories, read the blog post Your DNA Has a Story To Tell: Here’s How to Write It.
9. Pass It On
Your family stories are too precious to keep to yourself. Whether it’s your grandmother’s secret recipe scribbled on an envelope, that wild tale of how your parents met, or the incredible journey of your immigrant ancestors, these stories deserve to be preserved and shared. Don’t let your family’s legacy fade away – take time to pass these treasures on to the next generation.
Resolution: Share your family history research in a beautiful keepsake StoriedBook™ that connects generations through stories and documented history.
How to Start:
- Choose a focus for your family book project
- Gather favorite stories
- Organize stories chronologically or by family line
- Design your cover using StoriedBook™ Studio
Pro Tip: Start with one family line or theme for your first book project. Consider creating a series of smaller books rather than trying to document everything in one volume. This makes the project more manageable and allows family members to focus on their direct ancestors.
Let’s Reflect: What stories do you most want future generations to remember? Think about which discoveries would most interest younger family members.
A Gift to the Future
As you consider your New Year’s resolutions, remember that preserving your family’s history isn’t just about the past – it’s a gift to the future.
With Storied, you can document your family tree, collaborate with relatives, and preserve your discoveries in one place. This year, make a resolution that matters not just to you but to the generations that will follow. Start small, but start today. Future generations will thank you for the precious gift of their heritage.
Ready to turn your family history resolutions into reality? Start your free Storied account today and join thousands of family historians who are preserving their legacy for future generations. Begin your journey at Storied.