Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. In some systems, a user equipment (UE) may determine to change a first slot format used when operating in a half-duplex mode based on a traffic pattern or a channel quality, or both, and may transmit a request to change the slot format to a base station. The request may include information relating to a slot format based on the traffic pattern or the channel quality, or both, such as an explicit indication of a slot format or a request for a different resource distribution between uplink symbols, downlink symbols, or flexible symbols, or any combination thereof. The base station may receive the request to change the slot format and may transmit an indication of a second slot format to the UE based on the request. The base station and the UE may communicate using the second slot format.