So what exactly is “body doubling”?
Its when you hang with another person either in the same space or virtually to ensure that you are on the schedule to complete a task or to just hang out while you work.
Fast Company actually wrote an article on it, check it out here.
It was also a TikToc craze & a cool ADHD hack per this article.
Have you attempted your hand at it?
I can actually say that I have & I can also say that I love it.
So I received my first dose of body grouping (my version of more then one person involved) when I joined a writers group to promote better writing habits. One member wrote that she was going to be on a Zoom on silence and if any other members would like to join then all they would have to do is put on their camera & mute their sound. I have to say, at first I was completely taken a back because to me writing is extremely personal. Now you take something that intimate & expose it for a complete stranger to see being done. Eek! Sound the alarms. Well, in my head at least. I contemplated this idea for a while before actually deciding to take the plunge. At the time, I was really pushing myself to hit my writing goals daily so this felt as if I could potentially benefit from it. So I did it & although weird to be on a Zoom with 3 random individuals I have to say, I liked it. I was greeted with a smile, a wave & not even a glance & then that was it. We sat there writing in complete silence.
Okay, weird I know. However, I was able to accomplish my tasks at the time. Now, there is a different body doubling that I do almost daily during the week. Some might find it odd but I rather enjoy it. I body double virtually with my sister. I work, she works & we banter & we we sift through out emails & go about our work. Its nice & refreshing because its a constant sound board for our thought processes. If I am hit with a client issues, bam I just starting voicing the issue & I immediately have a conversation that eases my mind. Its refreshing & fun. Of course there are times where I can’t be on a body doubling call because I am speaking to individuals via phone or video chat but its a fun in between.
So if you haven’t tried it I task you with the challenge of phoning up a friend or sibling or even co-worker across the office. Or perhaps one day you & I can body double, although I talk a lot so unless you can work & talk, I may not be the best match. 😉
