The ‘admin party’ is turning stressful tasks into social occasions

While a stereotypical party might conjure up images of balloons and birthday cake, there is a new kind of social event trending. Introducing... the admin party.

We’ve all got that list of things that we know we should get started on, but somehow, never seem to find the time or the courage to work through. From tax returns to updating your CV, those niggling little tasks that you keep forgetting (or avoiding) often build up in the background.

But what if you could invite friends around for drinks, snacks, and accountability? That's the admin party a nutshell – a gathering of friends with the intention of committing to checking those pesky admin tasks off your list.

The weight of unfinished tasks

Many of us carry a running mental checklist of things we 'should' have done by now. Renew your passport. Chase that refund. Sort out the ISA.

The longer these tasks linger, the heavier they can feel. Psychologists refer to the Zeigarnik effect – our tendency to remember unfinished tasks more vividly than completed ones. In other words, half-done admin takes up more space in our minds, creating mental clutter that is hard to shake off.

Life admin can feel heavy for a variety of reasons. Often, it involves facing issues around money, health, employment, or housing – big topics that can make it emotionally overwhelming to get started. Add in the cognitive load of everyday life combined with an always-on digital culture, and it’s no wonder so many of us feel paralysed by paperwork.

But the admin party offers not just a practical solution, but an emotionally supportive one, too. 

Body doubling and gentle accountability

There’s a reason this format is so effective. For some, particularly neurodivergent people or those experiencing anxiety or low mood, working alongside others can make a huge difference.

The presence of another person – even if they’re focused on their own admin – can increase concentration and reduce avoidance, which is sometimes known as body doubling.

The accountability aspect may also play a part in how admin parties work. When you tell a friend, “Tonight I’m finally cancelling that subscription,” you’re more likely to follow through.

But more than just a space to maximise productivity, admin parties normalise the fact that grown adults struggle to keep up with what life demands of us. Sitting around a table comparing energy bills or forgetting our passwords, we see that we’re all just humans, trying to navigate complicated systems while coping with the weight of work, family, and mental health. 

Reclaiming boring tasks 

For many of us, productivity is tied to hustle culture – which glamourises early morning starts, side projects, and constant self-optimisation. But the admin party makes boring tasks feel a little more self-compassionate, with the focus on doing your best at a pace that works for you. 

In a society that undervalues domestic and emotional labour, the admin party offers the chance to actively celebrate the actions you've taken – no matter how small – instead of just accepting them as a part of adult life. 

And with the loneliness epidemic causing mental health issues across the globe, sharing a takeaway with friends effortlessly weaves in moments of connection into tasks that can otherwise feel draining and isolating. 

Permission to do admin differently

Perhaps what the admin party offers most is permission: to admit you’ve been avoiding something; to need a little moral support; to approach adulthood with friends, rather than struggling solo.

It challenges the idea that being on top of things means coping alone which, in many ways, harks back to older traditions – quilting circles, communal cooking, shared childcare – where effort and community were combined. 

If the thought of an admin party makes you cringe, that’s fine. But the underlying principle is worth considering: what would feel lighter if you didn’t carry it solo?