For years, years when I've had a major project to tackle (balancing my checking accounts, doing taxes, going through, organizing and filing a large amount of paperwork, reviewing a new employers gigunda benefits portfolio from which I have to make my choices, etc.); I've often asked a boyfriend or, if I didn't have one at the time, a friend if they'd come over while I do it.

I make it clear that I'm not asking for nor wanting their help. In fact I encourage them to bring a book or any project that they may want to work on of their own while I work on mine. I stress its not about us hanging out talking. I'd just appreciate it if they were there. They always look at me like, "Well, wtf do you want/need me there for if it's not necessarily to chat a whole lot?"

Sometimes I've had people who have agreed and have come over. I always seem to do best at whatever it is I'm working on when that's happened.

I'm not sure why though.

It's almost like they're the calm, grounded force in the room and I absorb some of that calm, focused attention and apply it towards whatever I'm working on.

Does that make sense? Has anybody else ever done something similar?