How “Body Doubling” Can Boost Focus and Productivity

You Should Know: Lots of us studied with friends or study groups during college, but we may have gotten away from working that way after graduation. Working with others actually has a name — “body doubling” — and it could help people with ADHD or who have trouble staying on task find more focus and get more done.
 
Going Deeper: ADHD directly affects the part of the brain in charge of executive functioning, which regulates planning, attention, and inhibitory control. People with ADHD often struggle with the motivation to get started on a project and to keep focused on the task once they do. Having a person working alongside you serves as a form of “external executive function.” If our work buddy is being productive, we may naturally model their behavior or ease into concentration simply by being in a focused environment. 

Takeaway: Body doubling took off during COVID as people yearned to connect with others when working from home. By anchoring you to a task and to someone else, body doubling can spur motivation, provide accountability, and encourage productivity. 

Bottom Line: Your double doesn’t have to be literally sitting right next to you. They can be in the same room or on a screen in a virtual work group. Even strangers working quietly in a library or cafe could be adequate body doubles for some.