When you perceive an emotion or make a new assumption, always test these against the following problematic influences:
- Sleep irregularity or deprivation
- Eating too much or too little
- Physically under- or overworked
- Dopamine deprivation or over stimulation
- Overconsumption of media
In this way you can make sure that your current thinking is not tied, or even worse, a byproduct of these states.
These are closely related to HALT (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired). Feelings and assumptions that arise from any of these circumstances are transient in nature and should ideally not influence our decision-making.
When we suffer from any of these factors, we do not have our best interest in mind. Our body is focused on survival, towards immediate gratification or a relief of the biological state in question.
Sources and Further Reading
Team, M. C. (2022, November 4). What Are the HALT Risk States? – Understanding the Risks of Working on Empty. https://www.mindtools.com/acd2ov1/what-are-the-halt-risk-states
