During the pandemic, my daughter Sophie started a clothing resale business out of her bedroom. Most days, she was boxing up sweatshirts, shoes, bags, and jackets that she bought at bargain prices and sold at a profit. When business was booming, she would have 30 boxes to fill, seal, and label in a single day. As a full-time college student with a part-time business, she was overwhelmed. And when she was experiencing significant anxiety about getting it all done in time for her customers to receive their packages when promised, she would ask me to come sit with her while she worked.
She didn’t ask me to pack or label anything, or give her advice on her inventory. She didn’t care if I was answering emails or reading a book. She just wanted me to be physically present with her while she worked. It made her feel less alone, more focused, and more accountable to finishing what she started.
This technique is known as “body doubling” — when you work in the physical or virtual presence of another person. What started as a strategy to help people with ADHD to stay focused on a task is a technique that I use with my coaching clients. It’s also one that you and your colleagues can use to help each other start or complete tasks — whether you’re working in person or virtually.
