What wastes the most time in genealogy research?

Repeating searches you have already done, because nothing was written down. A research log with date, source, search terms and result removes that entire category of lost time.

Should I research one branch at a time or all at once?

One branch, one question, one session. Jumping between branches means reloading the context each time — which places, which spellings, which archive — and that reloading is where the hours go.

How do I organise documents so I can find them again?

Name files so they sort usefully: surname, given name, year, record type, place. Attach every document to the person in your tree as soon as you save it, because a folder of correctly named files you never linked is still a folder you have to search.

Is it worth transcribing records I can already read?

Yes, because transcription makes them searchable later. When a name resurfaces three branches away, a transcribed archive answers in seconds where a folder of images means opening files one by one.

How long should a research session be?

Long enough to finish one question, and it should end with a written next step. Sessions that stop mid-thought cost their own length again in re-orientation the following time.

What should I automate and what should I keep manual?

Automate reading, translating, indexing and photo work. Keep identity decisions, source evaluation and conclusions manual — those are the parts where being wrong is expensive and slow to undo.

How do I stop collecting documents I never use?

Start each session from a question — "who were Anna's parents?" — rather than from a search box. A document that does not answer a question you asked is usually a document you will never revisit.

What is worth doing before an archive visit?

Check the catalogue for what is held, whether it is already digitised, opening hours, ordering deadlines and photography rules — then arrive with a list of specific references. Unprepared visits mostly produce a reading room reference you could have found from home.

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