Welcome back to Wednesday! The first presidential debate is rapidly approaching. It will take place on Thursday at 9:00 PM Eastern. And you know what that means?

… It means it’s worth stepping back and taking a break if you need to. The debates are going to inspire a flurry of hot takes and opinion pieces and horse race coverage. Which we’ve already been inundated with for the past several years, but it will only increase. Are you prone to doomscrolling? Does it only serve to build your anxiety? If so, maybe take a step back and let yourself focus on the news less. Select news outlets or news feeds that focus more on strict reporting than flooding with punditry and editorials (which can be difficult, granted).

We have a long way to go until November, so I hope you prioritize your mental health. It’s easy to fall into a trap of thinking that you need to “stay informed”, but being more informed doesn’t do you any good if it comes at the expense of your mental health. Plus, Wednesday is a day with a lot of other great threads at The Avocado – The Book Nook! Color Outside the Lines! Music Club! Tabletop! Comic Book Thread! Weekly Japanese Pop Culture Thread! Dating and Relationships Thread! Wrestling! Mental Health! Probably others I’ve forgotten! And all of the other daily threads!

Seriously, I’ve seen how much anxiety has been ramping up in the PT, and I hope you take care of yourself. It’s okay to step back and take a break from the news. Particularly heading into the weekend, you don’t need to surround yourself with all of the hot takes of the upcoming debate. Your wellness matters. So be kind to yourself and to others, and of course be thoughtful as well. Cheers.