When someone recommends that you don’t sweat the small stuff, you might reply with, “That’s easier said than done!” We all wish we could stop sweating the small stuff, but many of us struggle with this. Some people shake things off easier than others. Some people have to work really hard at it.
Whatever category you fall into, you can benefit from learning techniques that help you take it a bit easier in your recovery. Although recovery from substance use is a serious thing, being rock solid and serious all of the time can lead you to become unable to adapt to situations.
In certain circumstances, being able to adapt and go with the flow is a must. If a challenge has presented itself and you are unable to adapt, you’ll feel like you’re stuck in quicksand. Not sweating the small stuff means that you are willing to be smart in recovery.
Don’t let a setback ruin your day. Instead, make sure you can let go of the small things so you can focus on the bigger, more important ones. Continue reading to learn more about situations where you should stop sweating the small stuff and adapt to fit the situation.
I’m Feeling Disappointed: What Do I Do?
We all are going to face a situation in our recovery where we feel disappointed. We will feel disappointed with our friends, our family, and even ourselves. You could have something planned for weeks and, if it gets canceled, you might end up feeling disappointed because you were looking forward to it for so long. Instead of being stuck in disappointment, you’re going to have to learn to take a breath and try to find the optimism in the situation.
For example, something gets canceled that you were looking forward to. Now, all of a sudden, you have all of this time on your hands that you didn’t plan for. Embrace optimism in this situation by telling yourself that you can take this extra time to work on your recovery.
Consider doing some meditation, yoga, practicing mindfulness, spending time alone, or with friends. Do something that is going to lift your spirits and take your mind off of the disappointment. Do something that furthers your goals!
I’m Feeling Inconvenienced: What Do I Do?
Just like with disappointment, we are all going to feel inconvenienced every once in a while. You may plan for one thing, but then another thing occurs that you weren’t even thinking of. Your initial reaction might be that you are furious at the inconvenience. This could throw off your whole day if you let it.
Instead of feeding into the fury of inconvenience, try to reframe how the situation played out. Take a little bit of time to understand the circumstance and then reframe it in a healthier, more positive way. This will help you remain calm, giving yourself a new perspective as to why things didn’t go as planned.
For example, let’s say you were going to attend a 12-Step meeting in the afternoon. Perhaps the meeting got canceled at the last minute. You told a friend you couldn’t get coffee with them because you had this meeting, and now it’s canceled! This is surely an inconvenience.
However, if you reframe the situation, you’ll end up keeping calm and finding a positive spin for the circumstances. Maybe you could call your friend and see about getting coffee after all. Or, you could get coffee by yourself and enjoy some me-time. Whatever you choose to do, see it as an opportunity to do something that you weren’t planning on!
I’m Feeling Anxious: What Do I Do?
Everyone deals with nerves and feels anxious occasionally. You might have a busy schedule for the day and you’re worried about getting everything done on time and doing a good job. This would bring anyone a bit of anxiety. If you practice, however, remaining calm when you aren’t stressed, you’ll be more likely to use those anti-stress techniques when you really are feeling the weight of stress. By practicing tips for when you’re anxious, you’ll remain calm and in control of the situation. And even if the situation spirals out of control, you’ll be able to remain calm anyways!
For example, let’s say you have a busy day. You don’t know how you’re going to get it all done. Then, your spouse, child, or friend asks you to add one more thing to your to-do list. This raises your anxiety even more. In order to remain calm, you’re going to have to use some problem-solving skills. In this situation, ask yourself what is of utmost importance.
Get that item checked off, then go onto the next thing that is important. If something can wait until tomorrow when things are less hectic, then keep it for tomorrow. Do what you can today and remind yourself that you are doing the best that you can. If need be, ask for help. This is a great tool to have when you are problem-solving.
The Guest House is here to help you if you are feeling disappointed, inconvenienced, or anxious in your recovery. We want to help give you the best shot to get and stay sober. Call our trained and experienced staff today at (855) 372-1079. We can’t wait to hear from you and get you the help you deserve! Call us now, you won’t be disappointed in what we have to offer!