[HN Gopher] Body Doubling
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       Body Doubling
        
       Author : tosh
       Score  : 47 points
       Date   : 2025-03-29 18:48 UTC (4 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (en.wikipedia.org)
 (TXT) w3m dump (en.wikipedia.org)
        
       | eraviloi wrote:
       | Have used this technique a lot as a leader. I am fine sitting on
       | a call together till the work is done. Yes it is HOURS out of the
       | day, but the alternative is an endless supply of excuses why
       | something is not done.
       | 
       | For some tasks it is trivial, just providing the motivation.
       | Other tasks that are more complex benefit from the whole "two
       | minds are better than one" situation.
        
         | epolanski wrote:
         | I swear some of the most productive teams I had we did tons of
         | pair and mob programming and solo programming was not the norm.
        
       | TZubiri wrote:
       | Nice.
       | 
       | So basically just work at a company in an office and you'll be
       | more productive.
       | 
       | Literally company
        
         | atrus wrote:
         | Sure, assuming that the other distractions present in an office
         | don't offset that productivity.
        
           | TimTheTinker wrote:
           | I'm diagnosed with inattentive-variety ADHD. I worked in an
           | office for 17 years and remotely for 5 years. I often feel
           | more distracted at the office than by myself. Having a glass
           | office wall/door and monitors facing it did very little to
           | demotivate me from distractions.
           | 
           | Nothing has been anywhere as effective as sleep, nicotine
           | patches and (prescribed) ritalin. But having someone actively
           | working near me (even my daughter doing her schoolwork) does
           | help a lot.
        
       | nicbou wrote:
       | I have weekly body doubling meetings with friends. It's a good
       | way to socialise and get work done. We usually run a shared
       | pomodoro timer. When the day is over we can slowly ease into
       | other activities. It's fun and effective.
       | 
       | I want to combine it with brunch, another regular event of ours.
       | It would be nice to start the day with a lavish breakfast, before
       | everyone settles into their work day. I have a bit more free
       | time, and it would make me really happy.
        
       | grepLeigh wrote:
       | I do this a lot; it's just nice to have some quiet companionship
       | while working on something.
       | 
       | The difference between body doubling and "working in an office
       | setting" is mutual agreement to avoid distracting each other. I
       | usually combine body doubling with a pomodoro timer, so 25-30
       | minutes and then a break. This isn't conducive to deep flow work,
       | but it's great for getting your taxes done, booking a trip,
       | researching a dreaded thing, reviewing a PR, etc.
        
       | javajosh wrote:
       | They used to call this "peer pressure". Admittedly this is a
       | narrower form of it where you harness the power of vanity and
       | shame for purposes of good, not evil.
        
       | LeanderK wrote:
       | I recently found out that this is not a thing everyone does. This
       | is essentially how I survived my studies, I was never able to
       | concentrate at home except under intense stress. Quiet uni
       | libraries were my safe space to get work done.
        
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       (page generated 2025-03-29 23:01 UTC)