system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why is it easier to count down with numbers than it is to say the alphabet backwards?

Woah, thanks for all the great responses! I really appreciate all of the detailed comments, thanks guys!
gpt
Numbers repeat after 10 digits while the letters typically don't (except in things like excel or hexadecimal).  You're likely good at counting down with numbers because you've practiced it from a young age.

I had a teacher whose sister played a mean joke on her when she was really little.  She taught her the alphabet backwards.  Even now as she approaches retirement, she can still rattle off the alphabet amazingly quickly that way.  She even challenged students to race her while going the other direction.  Oddly enough, she has to slow down to do it the other way.  In the end, it's mostly about practice.