From time to time, I’ll make a decision, reflect upon it later and wonder to myself, “what was I thinking?”

Human behavior specialist offers some potential advice. She says we should use the HALT method to assess whether your mind is right for decisions.

H stands for Hungry. Apparently being “hangry” is a thing. If you haven’t eaten, your blood sugar can get low, and it can affect your decision making.

A stands for Angry. I learned a long time ago that being fired up doesn’t help decision making. When you’re angry, take a pause before addressing a situation that caused the emotion. Your perspective is skewed when you’re emotional. Hold off until later.

L stands for Lonely. Being isolated limits your frame of reference. Feedback and coaching before and through a difficult decision can be a powerful addition.

T stands for Tired. Fatigue impairs us. Making big decisions is best with a clear head.

Remember to take stock of your body and your mind when deciding things. If you can do so, HALT before proceeding when you aren’t full speed.