When you first get sober, you must plan your life around your alcoholic anonymous meeting schedule. You are likely to feel very uncomfortable attending the first alcoholic anonymous meetings on your schedule. It is easy to let the other activities and chores in your life control your meeting attendance. Remember that part of your sobriety involves taking control of every aspect of your life.
You will come up with every reason to either be late or simply not attend alcoholic anonymous meetings. You have to work late. You have to pick up the kids. You have to do laundry. While all of these may be true, you also have to stick to your alcoholic anonymous meeting schedule. If you do not follow your schedule, you are setting yourself up for a significant setback.
While work, kids, and laundry are important, so are you. Take care of yourself before you do anything else. Right now, part of that self care is your attendance and participation in alcoholic anonymous meetings. If you are like most recovering alcoholics, you are likely to be uncomfortable during your initial meetings. This is not uncommon. Do not expect something unreasonable of yourself. Accept how you feel. If you do not, you will begin to skip the meetings altogether.
The meetings are designed to help you as you maintain your sobriety. The meetings are anonymous so that you eventually feel comfortable sharing your feelings. The group helps you deal with everyday issues that impact your sobriety. This is all the more reason to plan your life around your meetings, not the other way around.
It is not difficult to organize your daily activities so that you can attend your alcoholic anonymous meetings. You will find that your friends and family members are available to help out. Let your neighbor pick up the kids. Your sister can help with the laundry. Participation in your alcoholic anonymous meeting schedule will help you on the job. If you need to attend alcoholic anonymous meetings during your work day, talk to your boss.
Not comfortable with your supervisor? Ask your human resources department if they have an Employee Assistance Program. EAPs are designed to assist employees with difficult personal issues that negatively impact their work productivity and attendance. The EAP can assist you with coordinating your alcoholic anonymous meeting schedule and your work schedule.
Planning your daily activities around your alcoholic anonymous meeting schedule is absolutely critical to your ongoing sobriety and general well-being. You must do everything you can to help yourself. The first and most important step is to consistently attend your AA meetings.