This is the Friday post at Downtime, a feel-good weekly roundup of recommendations and delightful distractions. If the email cuts off, you can view it on the web.

Hi! How was your week? Any fun plans for the weekend? I’m still recovering from being sick (ugh!), so I’m taking things slow. We’re planning to go to a Halloween parade and maybe relax at a brewery afterward. I’m also hoping to treat myself to a cozy movie night with Practical Magic (I’ve never seen it!).

Being sick and stuck on the couch hasn’t been fun, but it’s given me some perspective—reminding me how grateful I should be when I’m healthy and how much of the daily overwhelm feels unnecessary when I’m forced to slow down and accept my limits.

One upside: I’ve had the perfect excuse to drink all the tea. I even asked a few friends for their favorite recommendations, which I’m sharing with you in today’s issue.

Take care, and stay healthy out there!

—Alisha

P.S. ✨ Calling all gift-givers! ✨

It's that time of year again! Stuck on what to get for that friend who has everything, or your dad who insists he doesn’t need a thing? Downtime has you covered. Last year’s gifting Q&A was one of our most popular posts ever, and I’m excited to bring it back for another round.

This year, I’m taking your trickiest gift-giving questions again! You can submit them via the form at the bottom of this email. (Submissions are open exclusively for paid subscribers. ✨) I’ll select a few to answer in this year’s Q&A. Let’s do this.

In today’s post…

• The one tea ritual that’s helping me survive cold season

• A must-have book for any literature lover’s holiday wishlist

• My unexpected new favorite household gadget that I can’t stop talking about

• The feel-good podcast episode that had me laughing out loud

• A smart tip for avoiding election anxiety

• ELECTION SELF-CARE: U.S. election coverage has reached a fever pitch, as the election is right around the corner. It’s easy to feel a sense of dread and doom scroll every day because…I’ve done this! But it’s not helpful or productive. I’ve had to peel myself away from the latest polling results. Instead, I am doing small things that feel productive, like talking to those in my immediate circle about voting and researching what measures and local government races are on our ballot. What about you?

  
  Along these same lines, here’s a tip from an interview with the co-authors of Democracy in Retrograde in So Many Thoughts that resonated with me:

  “I know that it feels like when you go on the internet, people are screaming at you to vote. But what people don’t seem to realize is the power of their own voice in reaching the people closest to them, most of whom are probably not hyper-engaged voters and may not be extremely aware or educated.

  One of the most effective ways of getting people to vote and to change people’s minds on political issues — or get them to be engaged in something — is talk to people in your life.”

• LISTEN: Relatedly, I learned so much in this Forever35 episode about civic engagement with the Democracy in Retrograde co-authors Sami Sage and Emily Amick. Listen if you need a hopeful and energizing pep talk.

• LAUGH: And if you need a *silly* little escape for a bit, this Normal Gossip episode made me giggle throughout. It has everything: nepo babies, Garbage Man Appreciation Week, sexy calendars, and a family heirloom.

• WATCH: Honestly, this is a boring rec, but Great British Bakeoff is still a delight. We've been savoring each episode like small bites of a gooey pear tarte tatin to keep us going. I’m especially loving the love for Dylan, the “Captain Jack Sparrow of Baking.” 🫶 *NYT gift link

• READ: I just got my hands on an advance copy of the new annotated edition of Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (out November 5th), and it’s absolutely breathtaking. The format is a bibliophile’s dream: Ann has handwritten personal notes in the margins, giving you an intimate look into her creative process. It’s like watching her deconstruct the novel and rebuild it, piece by piece. This edition would be the perfect gift for any Ann Patchett fan or the book lover in your life.
  
  I recently heard someone describe Patchett’s books as having “an arc that typically bends towards justice,” which…in today’s climate, is everything I would like in a book.¹

• SPOOKY: Important life update: I bought the ghost candles.

Recommendations, please…

Who curates really good playlists? I’m in the mood for vibey, fall-appropriate music from artists I’m not familiar with. I adore this “fall walks playlist” from Cup of Jo / Joanna Goddard. I also enjoy Café Kitsuné’s eclectic curations.

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It’s—regrettably—cold and mysterious bug season. When you're feeling like crud, there’s nothing more comforting than sipping on a warm, cozy tea. I reached out to a few in-the-know friends for their favorite teas—perfect for when you're under the weather or just need a little cold-weather pick-me-up...