Psychologically, counting reps down is easier than counting up, according to Charles Staley, creator of the Escalating Density Training System. Knowing how many reps remain keeps you focused on the task ahead rather than what’s already been done. Strength and conditioning coach Charles Poliquin also advocates for counting reps down to maintain concentration during a workout.

For high-rep sets, breaking them into smaller chunks can be helpful. For instance, rather than counting down from 15 to 1, you can count 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 three times. This method makes large numbers feel more manageable.

Silence can also be beneficial. Not counting reps allows trainees to focus more on quality than quantity. I often remain quiet during a set, offering only brief cues and counting down the final few reps.

That said, some clients prefer counting upward, going against the typical advice. The key is to find what works best for each individual.