Organizing 101: Body Doubling

Since I started Control the Chaos back in March of 2022, my best-selling service has been in home organizing. Clients prefer to have the in-person experience of working 1:1 with a Professional to address their organizing challenges.

Some jobs are more hands-on than others, depending on the client's needs, restrictions, and the space(s) being addressed.

Others, I play more of a faciltator and 'account-a-bil-a-buddy' role. These are clients who don't trust themselves to stay focused on the task without someone else being present in the room.

This is known as body doubling and can be a great tool for people who struggle to have the will power to organize and declutter on their own.

What is Body Doubling?

The practice of body doubling is quite simple, yet extremely effective. It is a productivity strategy where one person works alongside another to complete a task, with the other person serving as a motivator and accountability partner. This technique is most commonly attributed to individuals with ADHD, for it allows them to stay focused on the particular task at hand.

Body doubling can be done both virtually and in person. I have had success implementing this technique with clients in both mediums because it is not about completing the same task in the same space. It is about having another individual to connect with, converse with, and keep you motivated along the way.

Let's face it, when you have a task you dread, it's natural for procrastination to set in, or in some extreme cases, do anything BUT the task you know you need to do. Now, for someone with ADHD, this desire to procrastinate and actively avoid "unimportant" tasks is dialled up to eleven and is applied to any task, especially household, mundane ones.

Working alongside someone as a body double eases the dread and makes those tasks tolerable, or in some cases even enjoyable. Why? Because you are doing it with someone. Many of my Clients over the years have expressed how just having someone to talk to and bounce ideas off of when decluttering or organizing has drastically shifted the process from negative to positive.

How can Body Doubling help you organize?

Humans are social creatures by nature. Even if you're an introvert (like me!), you get to a point where you want the company of others. Decluttering and organizing on your own can feel like an overwhelming, impossible task. You might be unsure of where to start, what you may want to keep/donate, or be afraid to open boxes knowing they are filled with countless decisions.

Working alongside an Organizer is a two for the price of one. Not only will we guide, motivate and work alongside you, but we can also provide you with valuable organizing recommendations, systems and processes to make what may seem impossible, possible.

Every Professional Organizer strives to set their clients up for long-term success because, after all, Organizing is a lifestyle, not a project, and the tool of Body Doubling is just one of many in our toolbox to achieve just that.

Body doubling is great when you're stuck and unable to move forward. You may know you need to declutter the garage or organize the basement, but you just can't will yourself to get started. Calling in an Organizer to body double can get you out of that rut and on the right track.

There is a huge correlation between disorganization and ADHD, so why not apply a proven method to help those with ADHD stay focused and on task, but to organization. The implementation of body doubling is just as, if not more, effective in addressing household chores and tasks, allowing you to stay focused with fewer distractions and access to a non-judgmental sounding board to problem solve and strategize throughout the process.

Body Doubling is extremely versatile. The benefits can be achieved in person 1:1 in the same space, adjacent space(s) on different tasks, or virtually through group or 1:1 sessions. No matter the process, the results are designed to let you see just how much and what you are capable of accomplishing with a little encouragement and accountability.

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Now that you are educated on body doubling and how beneficial the process can be, take a moment to answer the poll below:

Would you consider Body Doubling for your next Organizing project?

• Yes
• No
• Unsure

Body Doubling has amazing benefits, not only for your organizing needs, but to other dreaded daily tasks where a little encouragement might go a long way.

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Ready to get started?

So am I! Check out my In-Home Organizing & Organizing Coaching services to find out more!

Fill out the form here to arrange your complimentary 30-minute phone consult with me, a Certified Professional Organizer, TODAY! 📱

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About the Organizer: Brittany Smith lives in Ottawa, Canada, with her husband and feline furbaby Zoey. She is a Certified Professional Organizer, Owner, and Founder of Control the Chaos, a Professional Organizing business that provides personalized in-home, paper and digital organizing services aimed at transforming anyone's chaos into calm.