2026-08-04 · 5 min read
Body doubling: work alongside someone and get more done
The presence of another person can make a task feel more doable. Here is how to set up a body-doubling session that works.
Body doubling is working on a task while another person works nearby — in person or on a video call. For ADHD, the presence of another person can make a task feel more doable, because it adds a gentle accountability and a sense of being in it together.
How to set up a session
- Pick a person. A friend, a colleague, or a body-doubling community online.
- Set a time and a length. A 25-minute session is a good starting point.
- Name the task before you start. 'I'm going to draft the email' beats 'I'm going to work'.
- Use the checklist: start together, work in silence, check in at the end.
Why it helps with ADHD
Body doubling works because it lowers the barrier to starting. The task is no longer something you face alone — it's something you're doing alongside someone else, and that makes it feel more doable.
The ADHD planner includes a body-doubling checklist you can print and use.