Why My Genealogy Research Breakthrough Hasn’t Happened Yet

This week’s #52Ancestors theme is “A Breakthrough Moment.” You know that exhilarating instant when a genealogy research breakthrough finally happens — a brick wall crumbles, a long-sought record materializes, and everything suddenly clicks into place.

Here’s my confession: I haven’t had a major genealogy research breakthrough in months.

I should have plenty to write about. I attended two major genealogy conferences last year. I’ve enrolled in multiple courses. I’ve joined the Association of Professional Genealogists. I’m preparing for the NGS Advanced Skills in Genealogy Certificate Course. I maintain a weekly blog where I share genealogy stories and research insights.

And I’m starting to understand why.

The Education Trap: When Preparation Replaces Action

But somewhere along the way, learning genealogy became my primary genealogy activity.

Consider my current educational commitments. I’m taking paleography courses to prepare for the NGS certificate program. I restarted the Research Like a Pro® with DNA e-course because I wanted to absorb it more thoroughly. Last year I attended the Ohio Genealogical Society Conference in April and the National Genealogical Society Conference in May. This year I’m planning to attend OGS again in person and RootsTech virtually. Each conference means dozens of hours of sessions plus travel time for the in-person events.

Don’t misunderstand. These educational experiences have value. The BanyanDNA workshop at last year’s OGS conference gave me insights that will eventually help solve my Clifford Max mystery. The GPS methodology sessions reinforced research standards I need to master. The DNA analysis techniques will prove invaluable.

Eventually.

When I actually apply them.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth: I’ve been learning how to research more than I’ve been researching. I’ve been studying methodology more than I’ve been implementing it. I’ve been preparing for breakthroughs without creating the conditions for them to happen.

Education feels productive. It feels like progress. After all, I’m investing in my professional development, building toward certification, becoming a better genealogist.

Except that better genealogists still need to do the actual work.

The Blogging Paradox: Writing About Research Instead of Researching

Then there’s my blog. Our Growing Family Tree publishes consistently every week. I participate in the #52Ancestors challenge. I tackle the Storyteller Tuesday prompts. I share conference experiences and research insights.

The problem isn’t the blog itself. It’s that I’ve let it substitute for active research instead of supporting it.

Writing genealogy content takes significant time and effort. Each blog post requires selecting an ancestor, reviewing documentation, crafting narrative, optimizing for SEO, and formatting citations properly. A single post can consume four to six hours from concept to publication.

That’s four to six hours I’m not spending in record databases. Not analyzing DNA matches. Not building out collateral lines. Not chasing down new sources.

The irony cuts deep. I write about genealogy research while having less time to actually conduct genealogy research. I tell ancestor stories based on evidence I gathered months or years ago. I share research techniques I’ve learned but haven’t recently practiced.

My blog serves valuable purposes. It documents my ancestors’ lives. It connects me with other genealogists. It holds me accountable to research standards. It builds my professional portfolio.

But let’s be honest about what it isn’t doing: generating new genealogy research breakthroughs.

Breakthroughs require sustained focus on specific research questions. They demand hours spent systematically working through record collections. They need dedicated time to analyze DNA matches or transcribe documents or map migration patterns.

Blog posts about past research don’t create future discoveries.

The Reality Check: Genealogy Time Management Failures

Here’s where I need to get brutally honest with myself about time management.

I work full-time from home. That’s forty hours per week dedicated to earning a living. No commute time to factor in, thankfully, but that doesn’t mean those hours are any less demanding.

Then come the family obligations that matter most. Quality time with my husband and son. Visits with my parents while I’m blessed to still have them. Connections with my siblings. These aren’t optional. These are the relationships that give life meaning beyond the research.

And then the genealogy commitments I’ve created:

• Weekly blog posts (4-6 hours minimum)
• Course work and webinars (varying, but often 3-5 hours weekly)
• Conference attendance (multiple full days several times per year)
• Professional organization participation
• Social media engagement around genealogy content

When I lay it out like this, the imbalance is obvious.

What’s left for actual research? Maybe a few scattered hours here and there. Maybe some weekend time if nothing else demands attention. Maybe late evenings when I’m already tired from the full work day.

No wonder I haven’t had a genealogy research breakthrough lately.

Breakthroughs don’t happen during stolen moments between other obligations. They happen when you have sustained, focused research time. They require mental space to follow unexpected leads. Space to dig deeper when something doesn’t fit quite right. Space to try alternative search strategies when the obvious approach fails.

I keep setting research goals for my three major projects: proving Sven Svensson’s parentage, confirming Ellen McAuliffe’s parents, determining Clifford Max’s father. But goals without dedicated time remain wishes.

Breaking Through the Learning Trap: What Happens Next

So where does this leave me?

First, with clarity. Recognizing a pattern is the first step toward changing it. I now see how genealogy education and genealogy blogging, while valuable, have crowded out genealogy research itself.

Second, with choices to make. Not all educational opportunities deserve my time right now. Not every blog post needs to be written this week. Not every genealogy commitment serves my actual research goals.

Third, with a plan taking shape. Starting now, I’m implementing some boundaries:

• Limiting course enrollment to one active program at a time
• Designating specific weekly hours for hands-on research, protected from other genealogy activities, and giving myself permission to do less elsewhere
• Being more selective about which challenges and prompts to pursue
• Accepting that sometimes I won’t have a post ready for every weekly theme

The genealogy research breakthrough I’m chasing isn’t about finding a specific record or solving a particular mystery. It’s about breaking through the trap I’ve created where learning genealogy and writing about genealogy have replaced doing genealogy.

Maybe that’s the most important breakthrough of all.

Your Turn!

Have you experienced this tension between genealogy education and genealogy practice? Between documenting your research and conducting new research? Between all the things you could do and the time you actually have?

I’d genuinely love to hear how other genealogists balance these competing demands. Share your thoughts in the comments.

Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned from all that genealogy education, it’s that we’re stronger when we learn from each other’s experiences.

Even when those experiences involve admitting we haven’t quite figured it all out yet.