If you do one thing instead of another, you do the first thing and not the second thing, as the result of a choice or a change of behaviour.
She had to spend nearly four months away from him that summer, instead of the usualtwo.
If you slosh in a dessertspoon when asked for a teaspoon you have 63 calories insteadof 27.
They raised prices and cut production, instead of cutting costs.
Instead of going to work thinking that it will be totally boring, try to be positive.