Unicorn Roots

FocusMate

FocusMate is a virtual body doubling service, but let me back up. Body doubling is essentially parallel play for everyday tasks and chores. Many neurodiverse people, especially those with ADHD, have a hard time staying focused when alone, but work far more efficiently when someone else is there holding them accountable. Like most people, I sought this out for most of my life and only recently learned the name for it.

Kids doing homework while a parent works on something nearby and periodically checks; that’s body doubling. Working on your laptop at a library or café while others do the same; also, body doubling. In behavioral health, this is often described as modeled behavior. FocusMate applies this same concept through video calls and builds the Pomodoro Technique into its structure: a method traditionally using cycles of 25-minute bursts of focused work with 5-minute breaks in between, designed to boost productivity and prevent burnout.

FocusMate’s pricing is also straightforward and reasonable. Their free plan allows users up to three sessions a week at no charge. Their Plus plan offers unlimited weekly sessions for $8 per month (billed annually) or $12 per month (billed monthly). Businesses can also sign up for $5 per user per month for teams of 10 or more, with a $50 monthly minimum.

The site itself has a detailed, fully cited article on the science behind their method, along with an FAQ page and a page with detailed guidance on what users can do during sessions. Sessions can be prescheduled or started within minutes of logging in. To start a session, a user selects a length of time (25, 50, or 75 minutes), a task mode (Desk, Moving, or Anything), and whether they’d like to work in Quiet Mode. I personally prefer 50-minute sessions on the Anything task mode without setting Quiet Mode. I then introduce myself and my task, mute my microphone, and start working.

My preferred settings let me stay focused on my task and listen to my Instrumental Study playlist with someone else helping to hold me accountable. What a difference! When I first heard about FocusMate, I assumed it was just another app for sensitive tech bros. But it has genuinely helped me improve my productivity, and I’m happy to be proven wrong by science.

References

Focusmate Inc. (2026). How It Works. FocusMate.com. https://www.focusmate.com/how-it-works/

Health Essentials (2025). What is Body Doubling and Can It Help with ADHD?. Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/body-doubling-for-adhd