Do you fix the problem or fix the mood first? My flat tire debate

Yesterday I had one of those days where everything piled up. Missed my bus, spilled coffee on my shirt, and then got a flat on my bike about 2 miles from home. Normally I would have just called a ride and gone home frustrated but I had a deadline at 3 PM and no way around it. So I pulled over, took a breath, and fixed the tire myself with a patch kit I bought 4 months ago but never used. It took 20 minutes and my hands were filthy but somehow the rest of the day went smooth. That got me thinking though. Some people say you should tackle the actual problem first because the mood follows. Others say you have to calm down before you can think straight. I used to be in the first camp, plow through the issue and deal with feelings later. But after yesterday I wonder if that 5 minute breather is what really turned it around. Has anyone else noticed which order works better for you on a bad day? Do you fix the flat first or fix your head first?