In Part 2a, I shared how beneficial body doubling is for me. Now, I will talk about some specific places you might try virtual body doubling online. While there are many platforms to choose from, I will focus on the ones I’ve used personally. At the end of this post, you will find links to other articles that compare and contrast additional options.
Focusmate
I occasionally use Focusmate, which is the first body double site I tried out. Focusmate pairs you with a single partner for a session of varying lengths up to one hour. You can choose whether you want to be paired with someone doing desk work or physically moving around. As you spend more time on the site, you can also begin to ‘favorite’ folks you’ve enjoyed working alongside, and they’ll pair you up with them when possible. But typically, the assignments are at random.
The nice thing about Focusmate is that even without a membership, you can have up to three free sessions per week. So, this is a great option for dipping your toes in the water. I imagine it’s also a good fit for folks who are less interested in the social aspects of body doubling or who may get overstimulated in sessions with multiple people.
Deepwrk
Though Focusmate is lovely, and some folks prefer the one-to-one aspect of it, I just reached my first anniversary on Deepwrk in mid-April and can’t possibly say enough good things about it. Compared to Focusmate, it’s a much more robust platform in many ways, including the social aspects. With more than 2,000 sessions (one hour each) under my belt, I am not joking when I say I can’t even picture life without this platform anymore!
When I joined, I was still fairly recently diagnosed with ADHD (and suspected Autism). I had spent a couple of years recovering from burnout leading up to diagnosis and was dedicated to learning how to work better with my brain so that I could return to full gusto without immediately burning myself back out. The strides I’ve made in the year since becoming a Deepwrk member have been life-changing!
I’m less significantly impacted by time blindness and more aware of what a realistic to-do list looks like from one hour to the next. Others’ examples remind me to take breaks and check in with my body and energy. I feel comfortable sharing when I’m struggling and always find that there is someone who can relate and a bunch of folks cheering me on.
Recent revamps to the platform have opened up opportunities for members to host and greatly expanded the number of hours per day with live sessions. There’s also a Quiet Focus Space available 24/7/365 in which folks gather to silently co-work and use only the chat for optional updates.
Deepwrk also hosts an increasing number of themed sessions, like the peer support group, a group that discusses tech tools and other strategies we’ve found to help us manage productivity and focus, and a crafting group. I’ve personally enjoyed hosting weekly writing and music-making sessions.
There’s a Social Community where members can connect and share their wins, recommend resources that have helped them, and even post pet pictures—who doesn’t need more cute animals in their life?! But you can also just drop in and focus on your tasks; there’s no need to get involved and socialize if that’s not your desire. All are welcome!
Aside from getting more stuff done, I’ve really just come to value this community and the positive energy it brings to my life. We are a diverse bunch who learn from each other and lend support in countless ways.
If you’d like to try Deepwrk, you can use my referral link to access an extended 30-day free trial. I’m also happy to connect with folks for a virtual tour, explain more about how it works, or field questions – consider me your (unofficial) Deepwrk Ambassador!
Learn More
If you’d like to learn about other body doubling platforms, here’s a list of articles you may find helpful:
- Shimmer – “7 Best Body Doubling Apps for ADHD (2024)”
- NeuroLaunch – “Body Doubling Apps: The Ultimate Guide for ADHD Productivity”
- Free Apps for Me – “9 Best Body Doubling Apps & Websites in 2025”
hezhub.com 