Admin Nights Are the Most Productive Way to Catch Up on Life—Here’s How to Host One

If you’ve never heard of an Admin Night before, you might be missing out on the most productive party idea ever. Think about all of the administrative life tasks that everyone hates to do: paying bills, checking on your finances, scheduling appointments, cleaning out your inbox, going through your household mail, getting your meal planning done, and much more. When you’re busy, they can easily fall to the wayside until they all pile up and become a major chore.

Thankfully, Admin Nights are here to change that. Instead of tackling that pile of paperwork alone, set up an Admin Night with your friends and knock out all of those tasks together. Here's everything you need to know about the latest get-together trend and what you'll need to have them.

The point of an Admin Night is to turn those boring adult tasks into something to look forward to. It’s also a whole lot easier to take care of those little tasks you’ve been putting off when everyone around you is doing the same—think of it as positive peer pressure. 

All you'll need to do is call some friends and ask them to bring their own admin tasks they’ve been putting off. Set aside one day (or night) to meet up and get it all done. 

It’s a good idea to host an Admin Night once a month. If your weekends are booked up, don’t worry—this gathering can even take place on a weekday evening. Here’s how to make it extra fun.

Setting Up an Admin Night Station

The goal of an Admin Night is to have everyone working together in the same space. You’ll have the opportunity to catch up while you check off your tasks and hold each other accountable throughout the night. A large central table is a fun idea for admin night, but if your dining table just doesn’t have room for everyone,  try adding a few side tables and desks to the mix. If you want to spread out across your living room, then lap desks are a genius way to keep everyone comfy. 

Instead of decorating your space, set out tools everyone can use to help them as they complete their tasks for the night. Spare pens, envelopes, and stamps can be a huge help. Phone and laptop chargers, a water station, mousepads, and sticky notes are a few other things to keep close by. 

Other Prep to Keep in Mind

Before your guests arrive, put on soft instrumental music or calming sounds to help everyone focus. Clear away any extraneous decor to make room for your work—even your table centerpieces should be moved aside.

You can also try setting aside a container for people to place their most distracting items into. If they don’t need their phones to complete a certain admin task, they can put them away so that they aren’t tempted to check them. It’s the best way to guarantee a distraction-free night for everyone. 

Fueling Up While You Work

Party foods and drinks are great motivators. You should offer plenty to eat at your Admin Night, but don’t get distracted—small plates, finger foods, and easy-to-eat appetizers are all fun ideas that will allow you to work while you eat. Try setting out a charcuterie board for everyone to grab from, or set up a quick, easy personalized pizza station before everyone arrives. For busy weeknights, a group takeout order is always a good way to save time in the kitchen. 

You can set out wine and cocktails for their guests, but depending on the tasks you’re hoping to get done, it might be best to save those options for later in the night. Coffee, water, and tea are drinks to help you stay focused throughout the night. Functional mocktails are a fun alternative to cocktails that make your admin night feel more like a party. 

It’s always fun to reward yourself at the end of an Admin Night. Save a special dessert, batch cocktail, or even a bottle of champagne for when everyone has completed their tasks.