Posted February 3, Reviewed by Jessica Schrader. The appointed morning, I regretted registering. It was the weekend. When I showed up on Zoom at a. Thirty-one others showed up too. All women. Lori, who began The Writers Happiness Movement now Splendid Mola , is a writer and yoga teacher who believes in kindness.
She offers writing retreats and even scholarships, as well as some offerings gratis. People arrived on Zoom from all over the world. We introduced ourselves, then Lori led meditation , breathwork, and gentle yoga.
This connected us and sharpened our writerly attention so we could shut off our cameras and get to work. I had to leave, run errands, take a class. The container was set up so we could come and go any time, do whatever we wantedβthere was no pressure to actually write the entire time or even do anything related. It all was OK. We had and gave each other permission to pet cats, read books, call the furnace repair person; whatever was needed.
Instead, I came back after my class and revised and refined until the essay was done, ready to submit. Sweet relief! I felt gratified, accomplished, and at ease. I wanted to help. I registered. These words took shape during that container. According to CHADD, a great organization for those with ADHD and those who love them , body doubling "is a tool some adults use to help them start and complete projects. Sometimes referred to as an accountability partner, it is a technique for better productivity.
A body double is a friend or partner who works simultaneously, either in the same room or virtually through videochat platforms. Inside my January writing container of 18 again, all women. But there are also many without, and several introverts body doubling is clearly not only for those craving social contact.
