That's along the lines of what I tell the kids I teach and tutor for test prep. I want them to find triggers that help their brain and body know that it's kick-a$$ test taking time.
Sense if smell is a great memory trigger so chewing a certain flavor of gum can help with getting in gear for a certain task (I'm tasting and smelling spearmint, so it must be time for X).
Getting into "uniform" can help trigger positive behavior - this is why many people who work at home are productive when they dress for work, or wearing an outfit that makes you feel sexy can help you enjoy a night out more, or simply putting on workout clothes first thing in the morning can make someone follow a fitness routine. So if I'm feeling unfocused or unmotivated, I put on the right uniform for what I'm supposed to be doing.
Another thing with my SAT kids is the power of visual prompts and visualization. We spend a lot of time painting a vivid picture of how awesome college will be and encourage them to do things like use pencils with a college logo on them or wear a t-shirt from their favorite school to remind them of why they are there.
Music is a great trigger - there are songs that I run to that whenever I hear them, I associate with being healthy and strong and in motion. I encourage my SAT kids to listen to a favorite song before classes, practice tests, homework and then the real exam to help get him into test mode.
Finally, a big challenge for my students is to focus on long reading passages - they "read with their pencils" (meaning the pencils are in their hand and they're annotating along the way) so I have them wear a bright band aid, or rubber bracelet, or paint their thumbnail a really bright color to visually remind themselves to focus and use their reading strategies even on long, dense passages. That could help anyone who struggles with reading long texts or other boring but important materials.