In February 2024, Focusmate surveyed 834 active members to measure the impact of virtual coworking on productivity, work performance, accountability, well-being, and connection. The research also examined whether body doubling through Focusmate works differently for neurodivergent members than for neurotypical ones.
Key findings
- 99% of members reported that Focusmate improves their productivity, with an average self-reported productivity increase of 143%
- 96% said Focusmate helps them follow through on their intentions and plans
- 92% reported improved performance at work or school
- 83% said sessions improve their well-being and reduce isolation
- 100% of members with diagnosed ADHD reported that Focusmate improves their productivity
- Neurodivergent members reported a 161% productivity increase, the highest of any segment, with all segments reporting at least 128%
Members were selected based on regular session history at the time of the survey to ensure the results were representative. Respondents self-identified across four segments:
| Segment | Respondents |
|---|---|
| Diagnosed ADHD | 252 |
| Diagnosed and perceived ADHD | 377 |
| Neurodivergent, including ADHD | 303 |
| No ADHD or neurodivergent identification | 252 |
How virtual coworking affects productivity
In a survey of 834 Focusmate users, 99% reported that Focusmate improves their productivity, with members estimating an average productivity increase of 143%. Over 98% said it helps them make good use of their time, and 98% said they are more focused and less distracted during sessions.
“My productivity doubled since I started using Focusmate.”
— Onur S., Netherlands
How productivity differs across segments
Every segment in the survey reported at least a 128% productivity increase. Neurodivergent members reported the highest at 161%, roughly 33 percentage points above members with no ADHD or neurodivergent identification.
Does virtual coworking improve work quality?
Out of 834 Focusmate members, 92% reported that virtual coworking improved their performance at work or school, and 77% said it improved the quality of their work.
Productivity measures how much gets done. Performance measures how well it gets done, and the survey captured both. The structure of working alongside someone through body doubling sessions seems to carry over into how people feel about the work they produce.
“I’ve logged over 3300 sessions on Focusmate over the last 4yrs – it’s my #1 tool to getting more stuff done (and better quality stuff!)”
— Pete Mackintosh
How virtual coworking affects accountability
96% of surveyed members said that Focusmate helps them follow through on their intentions and plans, and 85% said it makes them more dependable. When you tell another person what you’re going to work on and sit with them while you do it, the gap between planning and doing gets smaller.
“I’ll let myself down by scrolling social media instead of working, but I won’t let my Focusmate partner down.”
— Ato A., United States
Does virtual coworking reduce loneliness?
Beyond output and performance, we asked how virtual coworking affects how people feel. 83% of members said it improves their well-being, 83% said they feel less isolated, and 72% said it gives them a sense of belonging.
For remote workers, freelancers, and anyone who spends long hours working alone, these numbers matter. The connection people find on Focusmate doesn’t come from chatting or catching up. It comes from the quiet presence of someone else working alongside you, and for a lot of members, this makes a world of difference.
“The simple experience of having an accountability buddy on the other side of the screen made me feel less alone and gave me a sense of community.”
— Song C., United Kingdom
How body doubling affects neurodivergent members
Body doubling means working in another person’s presence to help you start and stay on task, and virtual coworking is one of the most accessible ways to practice it on demand. It’s a strategy neurodivergent people have relied on long before it had a name. Focusmate makes it available any time, from anywhere.
Out of 834 Focusmate members in our survey, 100% of members with diagnosed ADHD reported Focusmate improves their productivity. Neurodivergent members reported a 161% productivity increase, compared to 128% for members with no ADHD or neurodivergent identification.
Diagnosed and perceived ADHD members reported feeling less lonely at 86% (vs. 83% overall) and improved well-being at 90% (vs. 83% overall).
“I’m a neuropsychologist and have ADHD and this is a proven technique that helps ADHDs called body doubling. It has raised my productivity by a thousand and I’ve been recommending it to all my ADHD patients ever since.”
— Aline N., Brazil
Methodology
The survey was conducted in February 2024 and sent to active Focusmate members with regular session history. Respondents self-identified across four segments: diagnosed ADHD, diagnosed and perceived ADHD, neurodivergent including ADHD, and no ADHD or neurodivergent identification. The research evaluated the impact of virtual coworking across productivity, work performance, accountability, well-being, and connection, with particular attention to the experience of neurodivergent members.
Regular session history refers to members who were actively using Focusmate at the time the survey was distributed and had completed five or more sessions in the previous week. For questions about this research, reach out to hi@focusmate.com.