There is no other time of year that drives me into cleaning mode than New Year’s. Oh sure, I have the occasional cleaning frenzy when my mother-in-law is coming to visit, but you can count on it – when Christmas is over and it’s time to take down the tree, I start cleaning out the corners, sorting through stacks and generally getting rid of stuff.

Yesterday, I cleaned off my desk, which generated two bags of trash. It’s just like leftovers in the fridge – I have every intention of consuming all the information that lands on my desk, but after it ages for three months and it hasn’t been touched, I pitch it.

So, to begin our new year, let’s not only clean, sort and simplify, check out this list that I found that promises to “energize you to the next level of greatness.” Okay, well … maybe you won’t automatically become greater, but I think if you adopt a couple of these things, you’ve raised the bar for yourself and you might even like yourself better:

1. Energize others.

2. Tell it like it is. (I’ve got to add here, truth without love is brutal, so while you’re telling it like it is, wrap it up in a little kindness.)

3. Be interested instead of interesting.

4. Race toward your fears instead of running from them. (This is a big one for some of us cowards!)

5. Be more curious.

6. Extend trust freely and earn it in return.

7. Pursue passion, not money. (But don’t starve to death!)

8. Talk less, listen more.

9. Fail fast, learn, move on.

10. Skip buzzwords and communicate with extreme clarity. (Can I add, please stop saying, “With that being said.” I’m so tired of hearing this in every set of reasons at a cow show.)

11. Never stand still. Remember, deer in headlights die.

12. Triple your rate of laughter. (Yes!)

13. Be more grateful – even for the little stuff.

14. Stop pointing fingers or casting blame.

15. Build your reputation with actions, not words.

16. When opportunity appears, seize it.

17. Spend time imagining what’s possible.

18. Never lose sight of the purpose behind your efforts.

19. Take more responsible risks.

20. Never apologize for your dreams.

Put these on your fridge, on the water heater in the milk house or someplace where you’re likely to glance at it once in a while. It’s a great reminder when we get slammed in the busy-ness of life.

And, Happy New Year!

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Melissa Hart may write to her in care of this publication.