Body doubling means doing your work while someone else is present, in person or virtually. The other person does not help, check or coach; they are simply there, usually doing their own work. The idea is widely used in ADHD communities, and many people without ADHD find it useful too.
Why it matters
It is one of the few focus strategies that does not depend on your own motivation, which is exactly why it still works on bad days. The quiet social presence makes starting easier and drifting less likely.
How to apply it
- Ask a friend or colleague to work alongside you for an hour, cameras on, microphones off.
- Try a silent co-working video session with strangers.
- Agree what you will each work on at the start, then just work.
- Pair it with a shared timer so breaks happen together.