Branch Organization: Structure Your Stories
Best practices for organizing branches
Branches organize your memories, but how should you structure them? By person? By theme? By time period? This guide shares proven strategies for organizing branches so your family can navigate memories easily, now and for generations.
📋 How It Works
Choose Organization Strategy
Decide primary structure: by person (Mom, Dad, Kids), by theme (Holidays, Travel, Daily Life), by time (Decades, Life Phases), or hybrid.
Create Top-Level Branches
Start with 3-7 main branches matching your strategy. Don't over-organize initially - you can always add sub-branches later.
Add Sub-Branches as Needed
As memories accumulate, create sub-branches. "Travel" becomes "Beach Vacations" and "Mountain Trips." Let structure emerge organically.
Use Consistent Naming
Name branches clearly and consistently. "Childhood (1950-1960)" not just "Childhood." Future family will thank you.
💡 Use Cases
- •Organizing by person for multi-generational family trees
- •Structuring by theme for topic-focused preservation
- •Grouping by decade for chronological life stories
- •Creating hybrid structures (Person > Theme > Time)
- •Reorganizing existing chaotic branch structure
- •Planning branch structure before inviting family
✨ Pro Tips
- →Start simple - perfect is the enemy of done
- →Mirror real-life relationships in branch structure
- →Use branch descriptions to explain organization system
- →Create "Unsorted" branch for quick captures, organize later
- →Consistent structure across branches reduces confusion
- →Ask family for input before finalizing structure
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change branch organization later?
Yes! Move memories between branches, rename branches, restructure anytime. Nothing is permanent.
What's the "best" way to organize branches?
Depends on your family. Small families: by theme. Large families: by person. No universal "best." What makes sense to YOUR family?
How deep should branch hierarchies go?
3 levels max is ideal. More than that becomes confusing to navigate. Broader is better than deeper.
Should I create a branch for each grandchild?
Depends on family size. 3-5 grandkids: yes, individual branches. 15 grandkids: probably not. Use tags instead.
What if family disagrees on organization?
Tree admin decides. Or use branch permissions to let different people organize their own branches their way.
📚 Related Guides
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