Body Doubling and ADHD
If you've ever sat down to get a task done and found yourself crippled by the inability to focus enough to complete your work, then you're familiar with the frustrating effects of ADHD. With a growing to-do list, something has to give! So what do you do to find focus and enable productivity? Enter Body Doubling.
What is Body Doubling?
Body Doubling is the practice of having another person sit with an individual with ADHD while they complete tasks. Typically, this person also struggles with executive dysfunction or understands the battle with ADHD enough to act as a support system. The idea behind a body double is that having company can improve focus and proficiency, even though the person isn't assisting with the task itself.
If you don't have a person who's willing to sit with you all day, don't panic! Body doubling can be accomplished virtually as well. Whether you Zoom with a buddy while you work or join a virtual Body Doubling group, this practice is just as effective online as it is in person.
How does Body Doubling work?
Our natural reaction to seeing someone buckle down and work hard is to mimic that behavior. It's kind of like the saying, "you are who you hang out with." If you're surrounded by people who are focused on tasks, it's easier to find that attention yourself.
Additionally, researchers suggest that body doubles act as a physical anchor for an unfocused individual, halting other causes of distraction. Likewise, if you schedule time with a body double, it gives you someone you're responsible for. The drive to focus ramps up when you're trying to avoid wasting someone else's time.
What can you use Body Doubling to accomplish?
The possibilities are endless! Body Doubling can be used to finish anything from the most complicated to entirely menial tasks.
Popular uses include:
Maintaining a workout regimen
Housework
Completing school assignments
Paying bills, filling out paperwork, etc.
Responding to emails/texts
Whether or not you decide to implement Body doubling into your daily routine, it's just another tool to keep in your arsenal for days when ADHD chooses to wage war against your productivity.
