If you have trouble getting work done remotely, you might want to try an accountability buddy or body doubling. Both methods are similar but have a small difference. With an accountability buddy, you both announce your goals and objectives for a work session and check in on each other's progress. With body doubling, the idea is that simply being in the same room as someone else working alongside is enough to make you stay focused on the tasks you have to do.

You can always ask your colleagues to join virtual coworking sessions together. But if that's not an option, there are several websites, forums, and apps dedicated to helping you find such accountability buddies or body doubles for free.

1. Cofocus (Web): Virtual Coworking Sessions With Online Accountability Buddies

Cofocus lets you hold virtual coworking sessions with a stranger to help you stay accountable and finish tasks but on your schedule. It's completely free with no hidden costs. The simple idea behind the app is that those who work remotely without a schedule can be tempted to keep procrastinating on their tasks, or simply not do them. Instead, if you schedule your tasks like it was a meeting with someone, you'll do what you're supposed to do at the time you should be doing it.

Here's how Cofocus works. After signing up, you'll need to book a session on the public calendar for the date and time that you want to hold a 50-minute coworking session. Cofocus will then match you with someone else who wants to share that session with you, and thus you become accountability buddies for that session.

Join the session when it's time, and exchange introductions as well as task goals with your accountability buddy. After 50 minutes, a bell will ring, when you're encouraged to share your progress and chat for a bit before the session ends. By the simple act of having a person on video chat the whole time, you'll find yourself being more responsible and accountable, as well as getting the encouragement you need when you feel like slacking.

2. Flown (Web): Guided Coworking Sessions for Remote Accountability

Flown is one of the most popular online coworking spaces for those who work remotely to find accountability buddies. The app isn't fully free, but the 30-day trial period gives you access to all its features. After that, you can use Flown for free on Fridays but will have to pay to use it on any other day.

The main feature of Flown is its scheduled guided features. You can check the calendar to see a variety of different types of coworking spaces where a live coach ensures you stay on track with your tasks. The common sessions are Deep Dive (a two-hour session with goal-setting and guided breaks), Power Hour (a one-hour session to achieve goals), and Take-Off (20-minute sessions to begin a project). If none of these match what you want, head to the all-day Drop-In session for a silent coworking space.

Apart from these various coworking spaces, Flown also offers pre-recorded "work alongside" sessions for a productivity boost, where it feels like you are working with a productivity expert. You can also peruse their library of 3-minute or 10-minute videos to recharge your batteries or realign your focus.

3. BodyDoubling.com (Web): Forum, Discord, and Resources for Body Doubling

BodyDoubling.com is a web space trying to promote the body doubling movement for any online workers, and making it easier to find people you can pair with for virtual coworking sessions. The site has a few resources and links that you can read to learn more about the idea, but the main focus is on the forums and the Discord server.

If you have specific requirements and are looking for a long-term body double partner, post in the body doubling forum and state what you need. It's not extremely active, but if you browse through past posts, you'll find that some people did get good match-ups, so you never know when you might get lucky.

The Discord server is more active and better if you want a body double partner right away. There are different channels you can join, such as text-based, audio-based, or video-based. Most sessions are quiet, so you'll have to mute your microphone. Users rely on the built-in "PomoBot" to time working sessions for 25 minutes, after which you unmute and chat during the break.

4. r/Productivity and r/GetMotivatedBuddies (Web): Find Accountability Buddies on Reddit

The r/Productivity subreddit is one of the best online communities for motivation, tips, and other resources to get things done. One of its less-known features is the live-chat Discord server, where you can talk with other productivity geeks about various ways to stay on track with your goals, and even find accountability buddies.

In the #accountability-buddy channel of the server, you can find people looking for buddies or post your own requirements. The standard format is to note your age, the time zone you're in as well as your working hours, your line of work or what you are studying, and what you are seeking out of an accountability buddy. Given that the Reddit community has over 1.7 million subscribers, you have a high chance of connecting with the right partner.

If you don't want a Discord chat partner, try r/GetMotivatedBuddies, which is an off-shoot of r/GetMotivated, one of the best subreddits for productivity life hacks. The community is dedicated to finding accountability partners for health and fitness, studying, work, and healthy habit building. Again, you are ideally asked to post your personal details, location or time zone, goals, and what you are seeking from your buddy.

5. Think Divergent (Android, iOS): Text-Based Random Matchups for Body Doubling

Think Divergent is a free and simple app for body doubling or accountability buddies when you need to work. The app targets creative workers primarily but doesn't have any restrictions about the tasks you're doing, so anyone can use it.

The app randomly pairs you with other users in a one-on-one text-based chatroom. Each session lasts for half an hour, and if you use the first five minutes to talk to each other, you can perfectly implement the Pomodoro method. Both of you are anonymous, and Think Divergent suggests not exchanging personal details.

Ideally, you should be able to quickly set goals for the session and then split apart to work on them. Think Divergent will send you a notification when the session is about to end, so you can then check back in with your accountability buddy. Some users also liked to check in at 10-minute intervals, just to get the feel of working alongside someone rather than alone. You can use whichever method best suits your style, as long as you're being productive.

Download: Think Divergent for Android | iOS (Free)

Try Your Local Library!

While these apps offer several cool options to find an online accountability buddy or body double for your virtual coworking session, you might find yourself still struggling with work. If you think you need a physical buddy, try your local library. It's one of the most recommended tips on accountability buddy forums.

People who come to libraries are either studying or working already, which makes it a goal-oriented environment. Some libraries already have coworking sessions set up. If yours doesn't, speak to the librarian to set up an informal invitation for anyone to join you for a coworking session, or if the librarian knows any of the regulars who would welcome you.