Body doubling for studying, online and free

Work next to someone else and starting gets easier. Studova pods put your friends' live timers beside yours.

Studova is a free app for body doubling while you study: you join a private pod, start your timer, and see your friends' live timers running beside yours. Body doubling means working next to another person, in the same room or online, so it is easier to start and stay on task.

The other person does not have to help you or even talk to you. They only have to be working too. Some people, including many people with ADHD, say this is what helps them start. Studova is a study tool, not medical advice, and it will not work the same for everyone, but it costs nothing to try.

How a pod works as a body double

A body double only needs to be there. In a Studova pod, that is your friends' timers. Open the pod and you see who is studying right now and on which subject. When you start your own timer, you are working alongside them.

Nobody has to talk and nobody has to turn on a camera. Pods are invite-only, so the people working beside you are people you chose.

Making it easier to start

The hardest part is the first few minutes. Pick a time, tell your pod, and let Studova remind you when a planned study block starts and you have not begun. One tap on the reminder starts the timer with the subject filled in.

Start small. Run a 25 minute Pomodoro, or an open-ended count-up timer, and glance at the pod. If a friend is already studying, that is your cue. If nobody is, send a nudge and ask them to join you in the pod chat.

Rain, brown noise or lo-fi sounds can help cover the room, and the browser extension can block distracting sites while the timer runs.

With one friend, a class or a group

For two people, make a pod with a friend and agree on a time. For a class, one pod holds up to 100 people. Everyone's total for the day shows on a daily leaderboard, which some groups enjoy and others ignore.

Everything runs in the browser, so friends in different cities, or on different devices, can join the same pod.

Common questions

What is body doubling?

Body doubling is working alongside another person, in the same room or online, so it is easier to start and stay on task. The other person does not need to help you. They only need to be working too.

Is there a free body doubling app for studying?

Studova is a free app where you can body double with friends. You create a private pod, start your timer, and see your friends' live timers and subjects next to yours.

Does body doubling help with ADHD?

Some people with ADHD say that working alongside someone helps them start. Studova is a study tool, not medical advice, and it does not claim to help with any condition. It is free to try.

Do I need to be on camera to body double on Studova?

No. Studova has no cameras and no video calls. You see your friends' live timers, and you can send nudges and chat in text.

Can I body double with strangers on Studova?

No. Pods are invite-only, so you study alongside people you invite, such as friends or classmates.

How do I start a body doubling session on Studova?

Make a pod, share the invite code with a friend, and both start your timers at the same time. You will each see the other's timer running live.

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