'Admin Night' is Trending and Here's Why It's Beneficial
Have you come across the term "admin night?". If not, a quick breakdown: Admin night refers to casual get-togethers where friends hang out and tackle their life and household admin work — think scheduling appointments, paying bills, sending emails — together.
This is gaining traction for several reasons: One, it allows people to see their friends more, which is always a plus in our book. Two, it helps people stay accountable, put their heads down, and get stuff done. Friendship and household admin are two things that can easily fall to the bottom on our list of priorities (when competing with work, parenting, caregiving, fitness, etc), and this trend allows people to carve out time for both in one fell swoop.
Some people say this is particularly beneficial for people with ADHD, thanks to the practice of "body doubling", which is a productivity strategy for people with the condition.
According to materials from Cleveland Clinic, body doubling occurs when you complete a task in the presence of another person, and it's a form of external executive functioning. Since ADHD affects the part of the brain that oversees executive functioning, adding another person in close proximity to you can help create a more focused environment.
Listen, we're all for this. We believe in the value of investing in friendship, and we love that the "admin night" trend makes so much of the invisible, underappreciated labor women take on disproportionately a bit more...well, visible. It acknowledges that we all have a ton of admin work to do, and that this work takes time.
Want to plan an admin night of your own? Go for it! And have fun with it. Encourage everyone to wear cozy pajamas or a matching sweat set, have tons of snacks, and keep it super casual. And remember: You're not just getting stuff done, you're also reaping the health benefits of friendship. A win/win.