H.A.L.T

How often during our life’s journey/wanderings do we really stop?

Even when we are having a bad day and our bodies want to stop we keep moving forward as that’s a more socially acceptable approach. There are also times when our bodies give clear signs of dizziness, fatigue, brain fog but we pop a pill instead of exploring and addressing what might be happening. We aren’t alone in this struggle.

Living in Delhi aids in the competitive and productive mindset. Schools, colleges and workplaces support productivity. Stopping is either a sign of weakness or incompetence in a specific field.  For a very long time I challenged myself to not cease and rest and was fairly successful in it until one day I went for a lasik surgery which compelled me to rest for a prolonged period of time. Resting created discomfort and unpleasant feelings in my body. I struggled for not having a productive day when I had to focus on rest. I wasn’t allowed to read even a single page in the book or check my phone as it could strain the eyes. I focused more on what I wasn’t able to achieve which kept growing and manifesting by delaying my recovery. 

Days passed, then months and I was able to come around it by discovering ways to relax  rather than fighting it. However much we think we have learnt a lesson, sometimes life keeps giving us more opportunities to do things differently for our own good. My next stop happened to be Spain where I worked for a short time. The way their days are designed is that they have a two hour siesta between work hours or an extended lunch. The struggle to slow down came knocking at my door again. The idea of slowing down sits differently for different people. For some their days looked absolutely peaceful and for some they were busy scratching their heads or wrapping their minds around it. Thinking about it now, I realize it was one of the countries that forced me to stop. There was no choice. It was the way of living and gradually it became mine too. 

As a practice, I make it a point to be more mindful of slowing down and take in what needs attention and time to be resolved instead of pushing too hard.  Some simple ways to do it are as follows: 

1. Practice everyday Self Check-in with H.A.L.T Technique: It is a self care technique that reminds you to stop and assess where you are emotionally, mentally and physically each day before behaving harshly or saying things you might regret. The term  stands for Hungry, Angry, Lonely and Tired. The four states that are incompatible with wise decision making. Many times we are agitated when we miss our meals or feel lost when we are actually just tired.

2. Listen to your body: Paying attention to your body cues is a cheap way to address what might be upsetting us and addressing it effectively. For example, be mindful of the pain you might be experiencing regularly by not suppressing but attending to it. Instead of rationalizing over work, try to get some proper sleep that might be hindering productive hours at work. 

3. Schedule “slow hour” of the day: Make time to engage in activities that slow you down to the present moment like journaling, gardening, visualizing to get into the daily practice. 

Why wait for a doctor prescription or medical report when you can stop, assess, respond and thrive in life.

About The Author

Sonam Chopra (Psychologist, Counsellor)

Sonam is a practicing counseling psychologist based in Delhi. She has 7+ years of experience in counseling, mentoring and business development. She pursued her bachelors and majors in Psychology from Delhi University & is an NLP practitioner. She served as an editor-in-chief of the Annual Psychology magazine in the Faculty of Arts, Delhi University.

She aims at curating a healthy and safe space for her clients. She recognizes that one size/plan doesn’t fit all. She believes that each of us has the potential to thrive when we celebrate our uniqueness and accept ourselves fully. She draws an eclectic approach, combining different therapy styles like CBT, ACT, gestalt therapy, positive psychology and mindfulness tailored to the needs and interests of different individuals.

She works from a collaborative, strength based approach; assisting clients to be the expert of their own lives. She has worked extensively with non-profit organizations, international mentoring organizations, hospitals, clinics and startups. She has assisted adolescents, adults and elderly in coping with anxiety, depression, stress, disruptive behaviors, self-esteem, trauma, grief and relationship distress to live a more authentic and purposeful life.