Remote workers finding solace in working together online
Have you heard of body doubling or parallel working? Well, this concept is helping remote workers all around the world.
With the switch to remote working for many people, some went into a self-diagnosed state of depression being away from the office, whilst others thrived on the concept.
Safe to say that remote working is not for everyone.
Which is why an old ideology called parallel working has come to light on TikTok. Traditionally, this was done in the same room, but due to the vast amounts of remote workers, people are shifting to working alone together.
Nicole Onyia, a 24-year-old data analyst who works remotely, goes live on TikTok for five hours whilst still working her job.
"She usually starts work at 9 a.m. and goes live an hour later. Onyia’s TikTok live videos, which she calls “work alone together,” have earned her 100,000-plus followers. She has an aesthetic desk setup with ambient music, and she stops working from time to time to answer questions in her comments section from viewers who work alongside her." (Yahoo)
This concept may seem arb to some people, watching someone working for the most part of your day, but then again people find joy in watching people eat, so this sounds much better.
"But with more people struggling with ADHD and a loneliness epidemic, body doubling is seen as a way to assuage both conditions." (Yahoo)
Allie K. Campbell, another TikToker who hosts working alone sessions called ADHD co-working sessions every Thursday, says that the person watching (the stranger) serves as "an unbiased, accountable "other" that helps one to get out of their personal struggles". (Yahoo)
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Not only does body doubling help workers with ADHD be more productive, it also assists people working remotely feel like they are a part of a community.
And the fact that these TikTokers (who are practicing body doubling) are gaining traction during their live videos, is a confirmation that even remote workers want to form part of a community.
Here's one of Nicole's TikTok videos:
@collettenic I will never pick a niche. Sorry not sorry. #novelnicole #booktok ♬ original sound - TRAILER PARK BOYS
Image Courtesy of TikTok