Roomie Cafe for people with ADHD
Start the task with company, no camera needed
Roomie Cafe is a free focus timer you share with friends. When you press start you see who else is working right now, and many people with ADHD find that makes it easier to begin and to keep going.
- No webcam
- Nothing to book
- Free, no session limit
How it works
Make the first step small
Pick one task and a short length. Five or ten minutes is fine, and you can start another session when it ends.
See who is working with you
A row of people focusing right now, your friends among them. Nobody sees or hears you, so there is nothing to perform.
Write where you got
One line when the timer ends. Half done counts. Friends can cheer you on.
Why company helps some people start
Many adults with ADHD describe knowing exactly what to do and still not being able to begin. Body doubling, working while someone else is present, is a strategy ADHD coaches have suggested for that moment since the 1990s.
The research is still early. There are surveys and small studies, and no large trials yet, so treat it as something to try and see. Our guide to body doubling for ADHD, linked below, goes through what is known.
Nothing to keep up with
Roomie Cafe has no leaderboards, no productivity score and nothing that breaks when you miss a day. A day off is an empty square on your calendar, and nobody gets told about it.
Sessions can be as short as five minutes. If you would rather fewer people saw your sessions, make your account private and only people you approve can follow you.
What people with ADHD get
Sessions from five minutes
Pick any length from 5 to 90 minutes. A short session is often the easiest one to start.
A timer that stays in view
On the web, pop the running timer into a small window that stays on top while you work in other tabs.
On your Lock Screen
On iPhone, Live Activities and widgets keep the time left where you can see it.
Focus Shield on iPhone
Block the apps that pull you away while a session runs, and silence their notifications.
Weekly goals
Set a target for the week, for everything or for one area of your life, and watch the bar fill.
Private when you want
Make your account private, and people have to ask before they can follow you.
Free on the web and on iOS
Everything you need is free, with no limit on sessions, on the web and on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Android is coming. Supporter is an optional subscription for people who want to fund what gets built next.
Questions from people with ADHD
Is there a free body doubling app for ADHD?
Roomie Cafe is free with no limit on sessions. You see who else is focusing right now, with no camera, no microphone and nothing to book.
Does body doubling work for ADHD?
Many people with ADHD say it helps them start and keep going. Research is still early, with surveys and small studies but no large trials, so it is worth trying to see whether it works for you.
Is there an ADHD accountability buddy app?
On Roomie Cafe you can follow a friend and see when they start a session, and they see yours. Many people find that quiet kind of accountability easier than check in calls.
Can a visible timer help with time blindness?
Many people with ADHD keep a timer in sight to know how much time is left. Roomie Cafe's timer can pop out into a small window on the web and shows on the Lock Screen on iPhone.
Is Roomie Cafe a treatment for ADHD?
No. Roomie Cafe is a focus timer, not a medical tool. Talk to a doctor or another qualified clinician about diagnosis and treatment.
Will people see me while I work?
There is no camera or microphone at all. Others see your name, what you are working on and your timer.