21 Day Family Connections Experiment: A Family History Project
by Olivia Jewell
what is it?
Studies have shown that having stronger family connections, including a personal understanding of your family’s history, can lead to increased resilience, unity and self-confidence. In light of the current world situation with the Covid -19 pandemic, we, as a group of family historians, thought it would be an excellent time to do an informal study about how connecting with both living and deceased family members can contribute positively to our overall emotional health and mental well being.
We’re not scientists, so this isn’t a scientific study, but we are interested in gathering data to show the results of an increased focus on family connections. These family connections come through family history activities which can be much more than charts and researching. Family history includes our living families, preserving our current lives, and connecting with family both living and deceased.
Family history activities in this 21 DAY experience will go beyond traditional genealogical tasks. In fact they will be short, simple, engaging, fun and can be enjoyed by children and families. These family friendly activities include discovering and sharing interesting stories of living relatives and ancestors, playing family history games, learning quick and easy genealogy tools, recording and sharing your own unique stories, and more.
Why 21-days? Research suggests that the brain takes 21-days to adjust to significant changes, new habits, or positive lifestyle adjustments.
Our hope as a team, is to facilitate the opportunity for individuals and families to discover the peace and joy that family connections can bring to your life through a broader perspective of family history, which includes family connections with both living and deceased relatives. We hope that as a result you will experience an increase in overall happiness as well as stronger family connections.
how it began…
Like many of you I’ve been stuck at home for weeks due to the current pandemic. After 4 weeks of going stir crazy, dealing with the roller coaster of highs from great days embracing the calm, followed by the lows of boredom and lack of motivation, I suddenly had the thought that a 21-day Family History challenge is my solution! Every time I have done one in the past, it resulted in more satisfaction and happiness in my life. I then thought about my many friends who I know are struggling through this pandemic and decided to invite them to do it with me. I wondered if we could even measure psychological benefits. I immediately got to work.
The next few days I spent brainstorming and reaching out to people in the genealogy community. I was excited that many of them shared my enthusiasm because they had all experienced their own personal psychological benefits from doing family history and connecting with family both living and deceased!
They all had skills and talents and tirelessly worked to bring this project to life. In less than a week, a simple idea turned into a far reaching project, thanks to the incredible help and support of these acquaintances that quickly became friends.
how do I participate?
1. Visit www.connections-experiment.com.
2. Opt in by taking a short survey that will help us measure the psychological benefits of family history
3. Choose one of the following plans: Family Plan, Teen Plan, About Me, ‘My Tree is Done’, and Build Your Own
4. Do your daily challenge for the next 21 days
5. Return to www.connections-experiment.com to take the final survey at the end of the 21 days.
