The HALT Method
One of the reasons I love podcasting is that it forces me to learn about topics and ideas that might not come up in a normal political column about, say, Donald Trump.
For example, during a recent conversation with author Michael Malice, on the topic of mental health, he shared with me something called the HALT method. If you’re not familiar (I wasn’t), the HALT method is simply this: Before you cop to being depressed or riddled with anxiety, ask yourself if you are Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired.
Another way of looking at it… if you are feeling sad, do not make ANY major life decisions before you eat, go for a jog, call up a friend, and take a nap.
Sure, it sounds simple. But I can personally attest to the fact that sleep deprivation changes my entire worldview. What is the opposite of walking around wearing rose-colored glasses? Whatever that is, it’s how my whole world looks after just one bad night’s sleep. There’s a reason sleep deprivation is considered to be a form of torture.
I’m not suggesting HALT will solve all your problems. People suffering from trauma or clinical depression won’t magically be cured just by eating a sandwich.
But HALTing is a great little technique that, I suspect, would have saved almost all of us from making some bad life decisions.
These are the kinds of lessons that I derive from interviewing interesting people on the podcast—and I hope that you are likewise benefitting from the wisdom of our guests.
Now I’m going to go take a nap!
Listen to the latest podcast episodes ...
Michael Malice on Mental Health
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Krystal Ball on the Bernie vs. Warren Feud
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Eric Michael Garcia on the Death of Drummer Neil Peart
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Read my most recent Daily Beast columns...
Republicans Melt Down as Evident of Trump's Guild Piles Up
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Joe Biden's Still Winning, and No One Laid a Glove on Him
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John Bolton, if You Have Something to Say, Then Say It
> Click here to read the column
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