In some of my posts the past few months, I’ve talked about things I do for calming distraction. These activities are valuable parts of my days and weeks as I continue to navigate life with severe anxiety. They help shift my thinking out of the loops of fearful catastrophizing that my brain can do. They help me relax into the moment and keep my focus on what I’m doing at the present time, instead of worrying about what might be ahead.
Genealogy is one of those calming and distracting activities for me.
And apparently I’m not alone when it comes to genealogy being a helpful way to spend time. In the American Ancestors newsletter from January 31, 2025, they state:
Research indicates that engaging students in family history research can have a positive impact on their mental well-being. Studies suggest that genealogy can contribute to lower anxiety levels and increased resilience in the face of challenges.
To be honest, I’m not sure if I’ve received increased resilience in the face of challenges. But the part about lower anxiety is definitely true for me. Spending time doing genealogy hasn’t been a permanent fix – the calming distraction, for me, has so far been temporary. But I’ll gladly take temporary respite over constant feelings of stress and high anxiety.
My relationship with genealogy has been off-and-on going back to my teenage years, and there have been big gaps of time between my dives into family history. This time around, I’ve been fairly consistent with my genealogy hobby since autumn 2020.
I spend time with the physical notebooks and binders and printouts of genealogy research I’ve accumulated over the years, and I spend time researching online at places like Ancestry and FamilySearch.
For the past few years, I’ve been blending research about my family with research about the local histories of where they lived – especially the history of my hometown. I especially like to find maps and pictures and information about streets and stores and churches and workplaces where my ancestors would have spent time.
All of this helps me by distracting me from whatever unpleasant or worrying thing that might be going on. It gives me somewhere else to temporarily place my focus – literally, in the case of genealogy and historical research, putting my attention on another place and another time.
Have you dipped into genealogy as a hobby?
If not, you might want to give it a try and see if it captures your attention and interest. If you find it boring or frustrating, then pass it by. But if you find it to be a calming distraction, maybe it will help you too.
❤
Ginger Simpson White 