A newsletter curating things to read, try, and ponder in your downtime. A grab bag of books, culture recs, and small delights.
Downtime is a newsletter for curious minds and aesthetically inclined souls — people who care deeply about how they spend their time, what they consume, and how it all fits together. You’ll find essays, cultural dispatches, thoughtful interviews, and weekly roundups of what to read, watch, and consider.
Downtime is among the top culture newsletters on Substack and has hundreds of thousands of subscribers. I’m excited for you to be a part of it.
x Alisha
“It’s like getting an email from your smart, funny, in-the-know friend.”
*Formerly known as the Girls' Night In newsletter, if you’re a longtime reader!
What do I get with a subscription?
Free subscribers receive:
Previews of new posts — essays, interviews, or roundups
Paid subscribers receive:
Full access to the Downtime Recs every Friday: books, articles, links, and new discoveries worth knowing about. A mix of high-brow and low-brow finds.
Deeper-dive posts: personal reflections, behind-the-scenes of creative work, and cultural commentary
Access to thoughtful author interviews and reader Q&As
Invitation to a community of engaged readers via comment threads and private chats
Your subscription helps sustain independent writing. Thank you for making this work possible.
Who’s behind Downtime?
I’m Alisha Ramos — a writer, editor, and strategist. I used to design tech products and founded the Girls’ Night In newsletter and community. Now I focus on writing full-time and consulting behind the scenes with other newsletters.
I live just outside Washington, D.C., with my husband and two-year-old daughter. I’m always reading five books at once, perpetually reorganizing my notes app, and am especially interested in how women make creative lives work — both on the page and off.
Who’s Downtime written for?
Downtime is written for the reader who toggles between literary criticism and Net-a-Porter tabs. For women who want to spend their time intentionally — not just optimize it. For mothers asking bigger questions, and people redefining ambition.
If you like a smart and practical recommendation as much as a resonant sentence, if you crave work that treats your intellect and aesthetics with equal seriousness — you’ll feel at home here.
Where should I start?
Try a Downtime Recs post — short, high-signal, and built for skimming. Then head to:
Then maybe jump into one of these past posts…
Who Am I Without My Ambition? - On identity, work, and motherhood.
3 Good Things with Jessie Randall - A thoughtful conversation with the designer behind Loeffler Randall.
My Favorite Reads of 2024. - A reading list I stand by.
Bookmarked with Carley Fortune. An interview with a beloved romance author.
Answers to Your Toughest Gifting Questions. Useful, specific, and highly requested.
How can I reach you?
General inquiries: alisha@downtimenewsletter.com
Brand partnerships or sponsorships (selective): kristin@downtimenewsletter.com
Tech or billing questions? Visit Substack’s FAQ.
