Body doubling is a strategy used by individuals with ADHD to help them complete tasks that they find frustrating or challenging. It involves having another person, known as the "body double," work alongside the person with ADHD to help them stay focused on the task at hand and reduce the risk of distraction. The body doubles job is to anchor the person with ADHD to the present moment and task, which can help reduce anxiety and increase productivity. The body double may make a boring task more rewarding and fun, or place subtle pressure on the person with ADHD to remain focused. In some cases, the mere presence of a body double can soothe the anxious mind of a person with symptoms of hyperactivity.

ADHD body doubling emerged in the self-help literature as a strategy for ADHD self-management, and anecdotal evidence from people with ADHD suggests that they find it helpful and soothing. If the strategy works, it may promote a sense of mastery and self-efficacy that inspires a person to develop additional techniques for coping with ADHD. A person may also learn new skills from a body double.

While there is no recent research testing the effectiveness of body doubling, many people with ADHD find it easier to stay focused on tasks when someone else is around to keep them company. A body double can be anyone, like a friend, relative, or co-worker, and can be helpful for getting stuff done in a wide range of situations. However, ADHD body doubling will not work for everyone, and some potential issues include the body double becoming a distraction, a person feeling embarrassed about their ADHD in front of the body double, an unsuitable body double shaming or criticizing the person with ADHD, and a body double prolonging the time it takes to complete the task.

In summary, body doubling is a strategy used by individuals with ADHD to help them complete tasks that they find challenging. It involves having another person work alongside the person with ADHD to help them stay focused on the task at hand and reduce the risk of distraction. While there is no recent research testing the effectiveness of body doubling, anecdotal evidence from people with ADHD suggests that they find it helpful and soothing.