This is a great challenge. I use lots of things cuz nothin works all the time.

One that succeeds a high percentage of the time, though, is to "buy" something I want to do with doing something I don't want to do. For example. I want tickets to a concert (want) and I have to enter my business expenses (don't want). I can "buy" permission from myself to go to the concert by getting the expenses entered.

Another is create very low bars. For example if there's a letter I need to write but don't feel like it, getting the envelope ready (writing out the address and putting the stamp on) might count for enough for today.

In reference to the previous tip, you'll notice I have changed the typical order.

When it comes to studying something, several "light" passes are often better at creating a good memory of the material as trying to be thorough on only one pass. This suggests taking several quick looks at the material. For example: day one: only look at the table of contents and decide what would be the most interesting chapters, and which the least. Day two, look at the bibliography and index. See any familiar names? Day three, read the introduction and try to figure out the writer's style: especially where they put key information. Is it typically near the front of the chapter, middle, or near the end? Where do they put their topical sentences in their paragraphs?

In a speed reading class once we got a great mnemonic, and I forget what it was! Something like Idea - PIE. A writer presents an idea, and then Presents an Illustration or Example. If you grasp the idea, you can skip past the illustration and examples. Whole self-help books are essentially 3 or 4 ideas and many examples. Takes about 30 minutes to pick out the ideas.