How Body Doubling Works and the Top Body Doubling App to Get Started

Remember when group study sessions with friends felt more productive, whether it was on Discord or meeting up at your friend’s house. It was all so fun and comforting, giving the feeling that we are all in this together. The same togetherness can be found in the body doubling app that will help you stay focused regardless.

ADHD is increasingly recognized as a public health issue for both adults and kids. In 2024-2025, everyone is interested in understanding, earlier diagnosis, and supportive treatment of ADHD.

ADHD is full of challenges that include difficulty with attention regulation, being unable to stay focused, and performing tasks. This is where body doubling enters. You can do your task, let it be homework, office work, or studying in the presence of someone else, even if it is unrelated. This can be done over a video call, in person, or even through a live stream or TikTok.

In this article, we’ll dive into what body doubling is, why it works, how it’s being used in 2025, different ways you can do body doubling, whether through free tools or a body doubling app, and is body doubling only for ADHD or beneficial for everyone looking to stay focused and feel less alone while working.

If you feel motivation ditched you again, we know how you can motivate yourself.

What Is Body Doubling and How It Can Help You Be More Productive

If you’re wondering how to be more productive? Or what is body doubling? Then let me break i down for you. Body doubling is a productive technique in which you perform a task in the presence of another person to improve focus, motivation, and efficiency.

The second person is the body double and doesn’t have to be involved in the same task as yours. All they have to do is be present.

Their presence acts as a gentle external accountability anchor. It is the best study method for a variety of people.

For example, Your Friend is on a call while you write, or you’re in a Silent study room on YouTube or Discord.
Pro Tip Box: Even your cat sitting in the room can count.

Struggling to Focus? Here’s Why Body Doubling Actually Helps

• If you’re questioning how to focus with ADHD? Children and adults with ADHD often struggle with executive dysfunction, which means it is very hard for them to start tasks and stay on them.
• This is how body doubling is the best ADHD study tips and beneficial for you.
• Having someone around you, whether it is virtually or in person, you feel a light push to do something productive.
• When someone knows what they are doing, it creates social accountability. 
• We have mirror neurons, which means we mimic other actions and behaviour. This unconscious mimicry helps us to coexist with work rhythms and improve concentration.
• But is body doubling only for ADHD? It not only benefits people with ADHD but even neurotypical people benefit through Group study sessions, Co-working cafés, and Workout partners.

How To Use Body Doubling in 2025

• TikTok trend: Body doubling is a popular trend on TikTok with users sharing time-lapse videos, tips for effective body doubling, or live streaming. This trend has helped many youngsters and students while making it accessible to a global audience.
• Focusmate: People use Focusmate, which matches you with strangers for a timed virtual session. You just have to log in, get paired with a person, and work independently.
• Flown, Groove, Caveday: platforms like Groove, Flown, and Caveday offer Virtual work sessions with a host or guide. These communities give you a sense of belongingness, structure, and regular check-ins that will help you stay on track.
• YouTube: Joining a livestream like a study with me, or watching videos in which someone else is working or studying while doing your own thing. This creates a sense of companionship and helps reduce the feeling of loneliness.
• Discord servers: People are also using it by joining ADHD-focused communities offering Pomodoro technique ADHD work calls.

This isn’t just a TikTok trend—it’s becoming a lifestyle tool.

How to Get Started with Body Doubling

If you want to start body doubling, this is the best for remote workers, students, and creatives, while being one of the ADHD study tips.

Body doubling for ADHD and other individual is easy to start and flexible, as you don’t need expensive tools or an app to do it.

You can do without paying money. Here’s how you can get started:

Free, No-Pressure Options

These are easy ways to get started without paying or setting up complex tools:

• You can FaceTime your friend while you clean, work, or write. You don’t have to stick much convo since their presence is all you need.   
• You can sit next to your parents, sibling, roommate, or even your cute little pet. This will boost your attention and motivation.  
• You can stay tuned to “study with me” videos or live streams conducted by YouTubers. This can provide you with a proper workspace and sense of togetherness. This is one of the best study methods and a low-budget option. 
• You can join as many ADHD or study-focused group on Discord that offers deep work sessions, pomodoro, or video and voice calls with others.
• Use Telegram or WhatsApp groups for silent co-working or check-ins.
  Try the Pomodoro technique ADHD on your own while someone is in the room or on a call with you.
  

These low-effort methods can be just as effective as any structured tool.

Paid or Subscription-Based Tools

If you want some paid or subscription-based tools, you can use these body doubling app that offer community, structure, and real-time accountability:

Focusmate 

• If you are thinking about how to stay focused while studying? Then you can use Focusmate.
• Focusmate will pair you with a one-on-one session with another user for calm, timed sessions. 
• They can be of 25 or 50 minutes, and you have to state your goal and then work quietly.
• It is best for those who want to work without distraction or group dynamics. 
• It costs around 400-500 per month for unlimited sessions.

Flown 

• Flown offers you a variety of deep work sessions that include theme-focused groups, accountability check-ins in and mindful breaks.
• Trained facilitators conduct these sessions as per different productivity needs. 
• It is best for those who want a mix of focus, learning, and recharging sessions along with belonging to a community.

Caveady 

• You can use Caveday for easy group deep sessions throughout the data.
•  All the sessions attended by you are led by hosts. 
• They provide you with check-ins and often use breakout rooms for smaller group concentration. 
• It is suitable for those who want to thrive in a group and want structured, productive sprints that are guided.

Groove 

• Groove is a body doubling app that gives you daily coworking sessions in a calming community-first surrounding. 
• It is a blend of free and premium plans, making it accessible to everyone. 
• You can use this if you’re seeking casual, regular coworking sessions with a supportive community.

These are ideal if you want regular structure or work from home and struggle with isolation.

Is Body Doubling Only for ADHD?

Body doubling started as a tool to support people with ADHD in staying focused or finishing tasks. But it is not just for people with ADHD; it can be for anyone and works perfectly for you as well. 

• Remote workers combat isolation
• Students who feel overwhelmed
• Creatives who struggle with task-switching
• Anyone dealing with low energy, burnout, or perfectionism.

Conclusion

Body doubling began as a support strategy for those with ADHD, but its impact has reached far beyond. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or a creative, staying focused and productive can be tough, especially when you’re working alone.

Just having someone present, even virtually, can help you move through tasks with more ease and motivation.

You don’t need expensive tools to get started; platforms like Focusmate or even a simple study buddy can work wonders. For many, it’s not just about how to focus with ADHD, but how to feel less alone while doing hard things.

In the end, productivity is less about pushing harder and more about feeling supported, and body doubling offers exactly that.

If you like this content you can check out The Ugly Side of Real Self Care No One Talks About.