This post originally appeared on Lindsey’s “College to Career” blog for Manpower.

I’ve always loved new beginnings – the first day of a new month, the turning of a new season, even the sunrise of a new day (on the rare occasion I’m up early enough to see it). Of course there is no bigger new beginning than the turning of the calendar to January 1.

This year in particular, the New Year feels like a crucial fresh start. 2009 will go down in the books as one of the hardest years ever for job seekers, especially those looking for entry-level work. If you’ve had a tough time in 2009, or even if it’s been a great year for you, here are some tips for starting 2010 on a successful note.

Out With the Old. To make room for new things in your life (a great job, fresh ideas, more money, a strong network, etc.) you need to get rid of any clutter that is weighing you down. This might include critical people, a job that drains your energy, college junk piled in your closet or self-defeating thoughts like “I’ll never get a job in this economy.” For inspiration, check out the Zen Habits Blog and Julie Morgenstern’s book, Shed Your Stuff, Change Your Life.

Set Quality (not Quantity) Goals. We all know that New Year’s resolutions are generally forgotten by February. So, instead of making a long list of “rules” for my year, I prefer to declare three to five big goals or priorities. I keep them in a little note file on my computer and pasted on the inside cover of the notebook I use every day. I peek at my list constantly to remind myself what my priorities are, how I want to spend my time and what opportunities not to pursue. If you need help clarifying your goals, check out Your Best Year Yet! Ten Questions for Making the Next Twelve Months Your Most Successful Ever.

Do One Thing Every Day. This is a piece of advice I share in every workshop I lead and with every student who asks for my most important career tip. Just like being healthy or learning an instrument or excelling at a sport, being successful in your career requires daily commitment. Daily actions might include:

• reading a career advice article on MyPath
• attending a local networking event
• tweeting out a career-related article or question
• posting a comment to a professional discussion group on LinkedIn
• reaching out to an alum of your school for an informational interview
• reading one chapter of a career advice book
• setting up an appointment with your college career center
• anything else you can think of!

Finally, please don’t hesitate to send me your career questions this year. I will be answering reader questions in upcoming “College to Career” blog posts and podcasts.

Happy New Year and here’s to a great 2010!