I recently heard manifestation coach and author Roxie Nafousi raving about the 5-4-3-2-1 method. Roxie was celebrating the efficacy of the method as a way of reframing and resetting our brains to allow ourselves to take risks that we are on the precipice of talking ourselves out of, whether that’s at work or in our own self-development. For her, that meant walking onto a stage after counting backwards from five to one when she felt so nervous she thought her legs might not carry her. But for others, that might be starting a task that you’ve been putting off for days or stepping up to challenge a colleague on a decision.

On the face of it, a countdown is nothing new – a method used unconsciously by humans for centuries (probably) as a way of forcing ourselves to do something we don’t want to do. Stood at the top of a diving board and plucking up the courage to jump? 5-4-3-2-1 and leaaaaaaap. Need to message back an ex you don’t want to talk to? Deep breath and 5-4-3… oh, I hit send. Parents use it practically every day to ‘motivate’ their kids into doing a task they don’t want to do. I’ve lost count of the ‘If I get to one and you still haven’t got your shoes on, there’ll be trouble’ conversations I’ve had. And the strange thing is, it works. Jump made. Message sent. Shoes on.

A few days after hearing her talk about this, I found myself staring at a blank Word doc trying to start a project that had been on my to-do list for weeks. I had nothing to lose except more hours of my life, so I gave it a shot: “5-4-3-2-1…” and I started typing. Slowly at first, but before I knew it, I’d broken the seal and had completed the challenging task that had taken me weeks to confront. I used it again a few days later before walking onto a stage to take part in a panel I’d not had a chance to prep for. My heart said no, but my head told me to get on with it, and 5-4-3… and I was on stage and in full flow. Roxie was right, this unbelievably simple act can be all it takes to push yourself out of your comfort zone and to take the psychological risks that, in turn, can really enhance your career. And it really is as easy as 5-4-3-2-1.