FlowoWhat is known, and what is not
Body doubling is discussed widely in ADHD communities, much more widely than it has been studied. A 2025 study of body doubling in virtual reality noted that no peer-reviewed controlled trials had yet examined its effect on adults with ADHD, and that earlier findings were inconclusive (Ara and colleagues). Its own experiment was small, and it is a preprint.
An older idea in psychology may explain part of the appeal. Research on social facilitation found that the presence of other people tends to help performance on simple or well-practised tasks and can hurt it on complex or unfamiliar ones (Zajonc). If that applies here, a companion may suit routine work better than hard thinking.
How people use it
- Sitting with a friend or colleague who is doing their own work.
- Joining a scheduled video session where everyone works with cameras on.
- Saying out loud, at the start, what you will do, and checking in at the end.
Some people find being watched stressful, and for them it may make things harder. It is worth trying with a low-stakes task first.
How Flowo handles this
Flowo does not offer body doubling. If you use it, add the session as a fixed event, and Flowo plans the rest of the day around it. See how Flowo plans around events.