I Was Skeptical of the “Admin Night” Trend — And Then I Tried It
Somehow it’s only a couple of weeks into the new semester, and I already feel slightly behind. Assignments from every single class are piling up — not to mention all the random tasks I need to do to prep for graduation in the spring, and all the other little things that keep slipping down my to-do list.
As luck would have it, there’s a trending concept called an “admin night” party that’s designed to help you get annoying to-dos done. I first learned about the idea from a TikTok from user Maddy Agera (@maddyagers), who posted a video explaining the Wall Street Journal’s article “How to Turn the Bureaucratic Grind of Life Into a Party.” The key to the party, apparently? An admin night where you get boring chores done with your friends. As I stared down my own crowded planner, I knew I wanted to try it.
What Is an Admin Night?
It’s not the most exciting phrase ever, but an “admin night” is essentially a gathering with friends where you all work on completing “administrative” tasks that you may have been putting off.
The administrative work could be scheduling doctors appointments, canceling old subscriptions, paying bills, clearing storage on your phone or computer, or cleaning out your emails. The idea is that doing it with friends holds you accountable to getting it done, makes it more fun, and lets you socialize at the same time.
How My Friends and I Tried the “Admin Night” Trend
The thing is, I personally don’t really have all of those same types of admin tasks that I assume I one day (yikes) will have. But still, the idea of catching up on some work appealed to me, so my roommate and I decided to rebrand ours as a “get it done” night instead.
In our college version of “admin night,” we strayed from doing homework, which I’d recommend if you’re doing something similar. I already spend so much time doing homework, even with friends, which is part of the reason these other miscellaneous tasks haven’t been getting done!
If you’re wondering what to-dos you should tackle during your own “get it done” night, here are some ideas my friends and I came up with:
- Updating your resume
- Cleaning out your personal and school email
- Paying your utility bills (if you rent an apartment)
- Finally scheduling that dentist appointment
- Cleaning out your apartment/dorm mailbox
- Registering for graduation (!!)
- Applying for jobs and internships
- Updating your monthly calendar
And if you live in the same dorm/apartment:
- Cleaning out the freezer
- Putting your sheets in for a load while checking off other items
- Reorganizing your closet
The beauty of this is that you could do it from anywhere! If you want to accomplish more apartment/dorm-related tasks, you could do it at your place or your friend’s. If you’re looking to do some computer work, you could stay in or go to a coffee shop. As long as you’re with people who motivate you, that’s all that matters!
My Honest Review of Trying an “Admin Night”
My roommate and I live in an apartment and were so excited to try our college version of “admin night” because we always find ourselves talking about the things we need to do that aren’t school-related.
At 7 p.m. my roommate and I put on some comfy clothes and went to the couch with our computers and planners. We lit a candle, put on some background music (Olivia Dean, of course), and got to work.
Because I was with my roommate, we started by cleaning out the freezer and throwing out all the garbage we had. Then we decided we needed to do a quick cleaning of our floors because we trek in so much salt during the winter. Next, we returned to the couch to get into some computer work.
Honestly, once we started we couldn’t stop. I was able to update my resume, apply for three jobs, clean out my email inbox, schedule a haircut, register for graduation, order my cap and gown, and update my whiteboard calendar for February.
When I first heard about the “admin night” concept I was slightly hesitant, as it sounds like something for adults who are well past graduation. But once I tweaked it to fit my to-do list, our “get it done” night was such a success. I felt so productive and relieved, and, honestly, I slept like a baby that night.
