Reimagining Social Gatherings: The Rise of Admin Nights
Spending a Friday evening doing your taxes probably isn’t the most appealing way to kick off your weekend…but what if you added drinks, delicious takeout, and a couple of buddies who were also tackling those annoying tasks they’ve been avoiding?
That’s the idea behind “admin nights,” a new trend proliferating on TikTok. Friends come together, pull out their laptops, and start whittling away at their to-do lists. Think of a girls’ night in—focused on chores instead of cocktails and clubbing.
The Admin Night Experience
“It’s the perfect blend of both,” said Brie Ever, a Birmingham, Alabama-based content creator who hosts weekly “admin nights.” “There are moments when I know I need to lock in, and I’ll just put in my headphones. But for the most part, everyone’s talking, working, and enjoying a glass of wine together.” This community spirit is transforming tedious tasks into shared experiences.
While it might seem unusual for people to choose errands over happy hour, task-themed meetups are becoming a popular way to connect. Other examples online include “freezer meal parties,” where friends prepare ready-to-microwave dinners, and “vision board nights,” where groups create collages of their life goals.
These gatherings reflect a new approach to friendship, allowing individuals to prioritize social connections while managing the stressors of modern living. In today’s world, everything has the potential to serve as a social gathering.
Navigating Modern Friendships
As individuals age, spending time with friends naturally becomes more complicated. Responsibilities like work, romantic relations, children, and caregiving can drain one’s social battery. Even younger adults who seemingly have fewer commitments are feeling the pressures of a modern lifestyle.
According to Anna Goldfarb, author of Modern Friendship: How to Nurture Our Most Valued Connections, contemporary friend groups are often decentralized due to frequent relocations and job changes. “Our grandparents might’ve stayed in the same town for most of their lives,” she explained. “They didn’t have to work as hard to maintain connections.”
Additionally, rising living costs pose a barrier to traditional socializing. Data from YouGov’s 2025 Dining Out Report indicates that 37% of US diners are dining out less frequently than a year ago. With many citing rising expenses, outings often feel less feasible. This context makes it unsurprising that social gatherings are evolving.
The Intentionality of Gathering
Social activities have recently taken on a more productive and intentional nature. Running clubs and book clubs saw increased participation during the pandemic, according to Eventbrite. The trend of “soft clubbing” has also emerged, where nightlife activities shift to sober, wellness-oriented gatherings, such as cold-plunge parties and DJ-led sauna sessions. Admin nights appear to be a natural progression of this trend toward optimizing social interactions.
Moreover, vision board nights and meal prep parties have gained traction among organized, goal-driven individuals. Friends are even meeting to clean each other’s homes, bake, and catch up on life. Many such activities utilize a psychological concept known as “body doubling,” which is often beneficial for individuals with ADHD. Brie Ever emphasized this in her discussions about why admin nights resonate with participants.
Dr. Irene S. Levine, a psychologist and author of Best Friends Forever: Surviving A Breakup With Your Best Friend, sees immense value in completing errands alongside friends, even if it isn’t structured like a planned party. “This could extend to going to the gym together or grocery shopping,” she noted. “Doing things simultaneously with friends helps maximize time, allowing for interaction while checking off tasks.
Yet, there’s nothing self-indulgent about such gatherings. As Dr. Levine highlights, spending quality time with friends significantly contributes to emotional well-being and health.
Recent discussions about shifts in socializing suggest that younger generations, particularly Gen Z, may be partying less than their predecessors. However, these new forms of hanging out may offer a more fulfilling experience. As life becomes increasingly complex, and maintaining relationships becomes more challenging, a night spent on a friend’s couch may be just as rewarding as a traditional night out on the town.
In this evolving landscape of social interaction, admin nights and similar gatherings offer a refreshing take on friendship, emphasizing productivity and support while providing essential social connections.
Image Credit: www.vox.com
