A user equipment (UE) is configured for half-duplex operations with a network. The UE determines that half-duplex (HD) frequency division duplex (FDD) is enabled by a network with which the UE is communicating, wherein a guard period is configured for downlink and uplink switching when the HD FDD is enabled, performs a first uplink transmission at a first time and performs a first downlink reception at a second time, wherein the guard period represents a time duration between the first time and the second time during which the UE is not to perform a second different uplink transmission or a second different downlink reception.