Ever since I was a kid I had a 6 second rule. That means that if I had something I needed to do but didn't want to, I'd count till 6 and do it anyway. My personal rule was to just never ever break that rule, that at 6, I HAD to get it going.

Most of the time I'd use it to get out of bed or get out of the bath. Sometimes I'd also use it to restrict my time playing "ok in 6 seconds I'll stop playing with my dolls."

As I grew older, I'd use it as a motivation to get it going with my homework, get off messenger, etc. It really worked well, the same rule applied; whatever happens, don't cheat the "rule of 6." Most of the time, I wouldn't even have to count till 6 because I knew it would just mean I'd have to do it, so I'd just do it anyway.

As an adult, I've pretty much conditioned myself to do things by the rule of 6. I've pretty much mastered most usual things in my life but the rule of 6 never fails me when I start something new. Exercising, running, getting cooking, starting reading, it just works for me.

At the time, when I was 6, 6 was my favorite number. So just go ahead and pick a number from 1-10 (although I'd suggest 3-10) and try it. The important thing is just to not let yourself down. Like any other trick, it only works if you allow it to.