Short answer
Short answer: Seeing other people work strengthens your brain's "this is work time" signal; psychologists call it body doubling and social facilitation. The easiest way to get it at home is to join a focus room with friends at the same time, each running their own timer. No camera or microphone needed.
What is "study with me"?
"Study with me" started on YouTube as a video genre: someone films themselves studying, and viewers study alongside. The videos run for hours with no talking, usually with a Pomodoro timer and rain sounds, and rack up millions of views. During the pandemic the format moved to 24/7 "silent library" voice channels on Discord, and from there to apps designed specifically for it.
Why does it work?
- Body doubling. Starting and continuing a task is easier when someone else is working nearby. The effect is well documented in people with ADHD, but it works for almost everyone.
- Social facilitation. Robert Zajonc showed in 1965 that the presence of others improves performance on simple, well-practised tasks. Reviewing and solving problem sets fall squarely in that category.
- The appointment effect. "We meet in the room at 9" is far more binding than "I'll study at some point".
- Normalisation. When everyone around you is working, working becomes the default, and excuses to procrastinate shrink.
Three ways: YouTube, Discord, app
| Method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube video | Zero setup; pick any length and atmosphere | One-way, nobody sees you; recommendations distract |
| Discord server | Real people, live, large communities | Chat distracts; camera pressure; setup and moderation overhead |
| Focus app (Pomi) | Private room with friends, everyone on their own timer, progress logged, on your phone | Requires installing an app; community smaller than Discord |
How Pomi rooms work
You create a room in Pomi and the app gives you a 6-character invite code. Send it to your friends and they join. In the room you see everyone's name and timer status, but each person starts their own timer. There is no shared countdown: when someone finishes their 25 minutes and takes a break, everyone else's session keeps running. That removes the tension of "if one person leaves, everyone's tree dies" designs.
Every completed session adds a plant to your own garden and scores points for your city on the conquest map. Friends from the same city working in the same room are literally working together to win regions for their city.
No camera, no microphone, no chat. The room exists to give the feeling of "we are quietly working together", not to talk.
5 rules for a good study-with-me session
- Set a time and share it. "Tonight at 8, room code ABC123." The appointment effect starts here.
- Everyone writes their task in advance. Deciding what to study after joining burns the first pomodoro.
- Talk during breaks, not sessions. Fit the chat into the 5 minutes.
- Aim for at least 4 pomodoros. One session is not worth setting up a room; two hours makes a real study block.
- Share your numbers at the end. "I did 6 sessions today" is the strongest reason to come back tomorrow.
If you have not chosen a timer yet, see the Pomodoro app comparison; for the technique itself, the Pomodoro guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does study with me mean?
It means someone streams or records themselves studying while viewers study at the same time. The format has since moved to Discord rooms and to apps like Pomi that let friends work in the same room, each on their own timer.
What is body doubling?
The effect where having another person present while you work makes it easier to start and keep going. It is especially strong in people with ADHD and works in virtual rooms too.
Is there a shared timer in Pomi rooms?
No. Everyone in a room starts and stops their own timer. When one person takes a break, nobody else's session is affected. The room exists to create the feeling of working together.
How do I join a Pomi room?
The person who created the room shares a 6-character invite code. Enter it in the Rooms tab and you are in. No camera or microphone is required.
Sources
- Zajonc, R. B. (1965). Social facilitation. Science, 149(3681).
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Transparency note: This article was written by the developer of Pomi. Information about other apps is based on their public store listings at the time of publishing; prices and features may change. Spotted a mistake? Email us and we will fix it.