Prevention Safeguard (HALT)
HALT—Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired—is a reminder to check your condition before an important decision. If the decision can wait, address the immediate need and return to it under better conditions.
THE IDEA
Safeguard Strategy 1: Prevention
The first kind of safeguard aims at preventing problems before they happen. One way to do this is to avoid decision-making in unfavorable conditions. Stress, for instance, is a big contributor to bad decisions. Some studies have shown that stress short-circuits the deliberation process—it undermines the systematic evaluation of alternatives that’s needed for effective decision-making.1
Alcoholics Anonymous has a helpful safeguard for its members. They call it HALT—an acronym that stands for Hungry, Angry, Lonely, and Tired. When you feel like having a drink, they say, ask yourself whether any of these conditions apply. If so, deal with the real problem—hunger, anger, loneliness, or fatigue—instead of reaching for a drink.
You can use the principles behind HALT as a safeguard for decision-making in general. If you have an important decision to make, ask yourself: “Am I hungry? Am I angry or otherwise emotional? Am I lonely or otherwise stressed by my circumstances, such as being in an unfamiliar environment or pressed for time? Am I tired, sleep-deprived, or physically fatigued?” If the answer is yes to any of these questions, avoid making the decision if you can. Wait for a more opportune time. Otherwise, your defaults will take over.
When to use it
Before an important meeting, check whether hunger or fatigue needs attention.
A negotiator feeling rising anger during a deal steps away to calm down, preventing an impulsive concession.
A student studying for an exam late at night decides to sleep rather than pulling an all-nighter, improving next-day performance.
After a major personal disruption, allow time to assess nonurgent financial decisions and seek relevant advice.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
Alcoholics Anonymous relapse prevention
Members of AA use HALT to avoid drinking. When they feel a craving, they check if they are Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. The check directs attention to an immediate need that may be contributing to the craving.
Business decision postponed
A manager facing a critical hiring choice realizes she is tired and angry after a long conflict. She uses HALT, recognizes her state, and postpones the interview until the next morning when she is rested and calm.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
Recall a recent poor decision. Were you hungry, angry, lonely, or tired at the time? How might delaying the decision have changed the outcome?
What environmental triggers could you use to remind yourself to check HALT before making important choices?
How can you proactively address these physical and emotional states to create better conditions for decision-making?
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- Clear Thinking Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results (Shane Parrish)