New Year’s Resolutions are notoriously hard to keep. In fact, studies show that come December of a given year, only 8 % of us have actually delivered on our January promises to ourselves.

It’s not necessarily that we’re lazy or unmotivated (although we all have our moments). Sometimes we aim too high. Intoxicated by the glow of a new calendar page opening before us, it’s easy to be overly ambitious. Let’s say you decide to run a marathon. If you’re a seasoned runner, this may make sense, but if you’re new to running it might be better to start with a 5K.

Other resolutions fall by the wayside because they are too difficult to quantify. “Reconnect with old friends” is a noble goal, but it includes no concrete steps. “Call an old friend every month” or “start a weekly game night,” on the other hand, are clear measures you can take to renew relationships. Keeping things positive is another way to boost your chances of sticking to your goals. Trying to lose weight before a high school reunion is a goal rooted in self-consciousness and negativity; trying to lose weight to get to your ideal BMI, on the other hand, is rooted in health-consciousness and positivity.

Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook and author of the best-selling motivational book Lean In, wrote on Facebook in January 2016 that she resolved to record “three moments of joy” each day throughout the year. After the untimely death of her husband the previous year, Sandberg sometimes had trouble just getting through the days, working and raising young children while experiencing profound grief. A friend suggested this practice as a way to restore gratitude and confidence, and Sandberg thought it would make a great resolution for 2016. She revealed in late December that she had managed to keep the resolution all year long, whereas she usually abandons her resolutions by February.

Sandberg’s decision to record moments of joy meets all three criteria for a successful resolution: it’s modest in scope, measurable, and rooted in positivity. This January, we’d all do well to follow her lead when drafting our own resolutions. After all, there’s nothing like keeping a year-long promise to yourself to set you on a path to continuous self-improvement!