The Advantages of Body Doubling

Quite a few techniques have helped me throughout my PhD, but none of them worked as well as something called ‘body doubling’. You may have heard this term before and wondered just what exactly it meant. Essentially, body doubling is a technique used to increase focus, productivity, and accountability by working alongside another person, either in person or virtually, while engaging in individual tasks or activities. The concept of body doubling draws on the idea that having another person present can provide a sense of companionship, structure, and accountability, which can help individuals stay on task and overcome distractions (looking at you, Netflix!). Body doubling can be a valuable strategy for enhancing concentration and productivity in academia, where independent study and research are standard. 

Let’s take a closer look at what body doubling is and how it can help you in your academic writing:

What is body doubling?

Body doubling involves working alongside another person engaged in their own tasks or activities, either in the same physical space or virtually through video conferencing or messaging platforms (Teams finally has a purpose!). The presence of another person provides a sense of companionship and support, even if the individuals are working independently on separate tasks. It’s like doing group work but without the pesky need for everyone to pull their own weight for the final project. You set your own pace while working alongside someone else.

How does it work?

When engaging in body doubling, individuals typically set aside dedicated time to work alongside their partner, agreeing on specific tasks or goals to focus on during the session. You may choose to work in the same room or location, such as a library or café, or connect virtually through video calls or messaging platforms. During the body doubling session, both individuals work quietly on their respective tasks, periodically checking in with each other for encouragement, accountability, or brief breaks. The presence of another person helps create a structured environment conducive to productivity and focus.

How can it help me in my academic writing?

Increased Focus and Productivity:

The presence of another person can create a sense of accountability and motivation, helping individuals stay focused on their tasks and avoid distractions. Knowing that someone else is working alongside you can provide an added incentive to concentrate and make progress. I know that I always work better when I’m with someone else who’s working because I feel obligated to keep working and not take as many breaks.

Reduced Procrastination:

Body doubling can help you overcome procrastination by providing a structured and supportive environment for working on tasks that may feel overwhelming or daunting. The presence of a body double can help break the cycle of procrastination and create momentum for getting started on important projects. Need to finish that chapter that you keep putting off? Set a goal to write 500 words in your first body doubling session and see how much you actually accomplish!

Enhanced Time Management:

Working alongside a body double can help individuals manage their time more effectively because you aim to set specific goals or deadlines for completing tasks during the session. The structured nature of body doubling encourages you to prioritise your work and allocate time wisely. If you’re only meeting for a few hours or just one afternoon, there’s a sense of urgency perhaps to get more work done while you can to maximise your time spent body doubling.

Opportunities for Collaboration and Support:

While body doubling primarily involves independent work, it also provides opportunities for collaboration, feedback, and support between partners. You can share ideas, resources, or insights with your body double, fostering a sense of camaraderie and intellectual engagement. If you don’t have time to body double, I highly recommend at least prioritising meeting up with other students or academics on your lunch break to bounce ideas off of each other — you never know where inspiration might come from!

Improved Well-Being:

The social aspect of body doubling can contribute to a sense of well-being and connectedness, particularly for individuals who may experience feelings of isolation or loneliness while studying or working independently. The presence of a supportive partner can help alleviate stress and create a more positive and enjoyable working environment. Academia can be a really isolating field, especially as you advance higher in your education and work. Body doubling really helped me feel less alone on my PhD journey, even if I was working with people who weren’t studying my same subject.

As you can (hopefully!) see, body doubling is a valuable technique for increasing focus, productivity, and accountability, both in academic work and beyond. By working alongside another person, you can harness the benefits of companionship, structure, and support to overcome distractions, manage your time more effectively, and make progress on your academic tasks and goals. Whether studying for exams, writing research papers, or tackling other academic projects, body doubling offers a practical and effective strategy for enhancing concentration and productivity in academic settings. I would add a final note to say that I know body doubling doesn’t work for everyone; as someone who has ADHD, I was worried that body doubling would be more of a distraction than a help, but thankfully, I actually found that I was much more productive when practising body doubling because of that sense of accountability.

Not sure where to start finding a body double? Try making a new friend in your subject area and meet for a tea or coffee first to see if you gel well and go from there! I highly recommend seeing if your library offers pods or separate study rooms so that you can minimise as many distractions as possible.

Tried body doubling? What are some of your top tips for getting work done?