Machiavelli, you're at a point in the quit where I was when I started going stir crazy from the lack of a break in routine that smoking gave me.
Sorry to say it but I still have the same problem almost a year on! My guess is that as smokers those regular breaks from what we were doing, whether at home or at work, made a huge difference to concentration levels. It was more the break from the activity that helped us regain concentration and focus, NOT entirely the cigarette like so many smokers believe (although it shut old Nic up for a while which did help)! Now that we've quit, we forget to take the break when there isn't an addiction to feed. I personally was shocked to find that I'm often entirely unable to concentrate now - thought it would be easy as pie and it's truly devastating.
It's all supposed to be sunshine and roses now, right? Not quite, but we're sure trying!
Remember, you smoked for XX years so that's a lot of breaks you're missing. You're bound to get stir crazy. Me, it was 20 years, so if you figure a twelve hour day with one break an hour (bare minimum!) for 20 years = 87,600 breaks. No wonder you're going barmy and need to move around!
I haven't got a definitive answer for you but what works for me:
1. Exercise as much as possible. It helps the body and mind in so many ways and I can really tell when I'm being lazy because I get crabby and totally unfocussed. A brisk walk or run works wonders.
2. If it's allowed where you work, wear headphones with instrumental music or other white noise playing when you're trying to concentrate (I work in open plan and swear I've developed ADD since I quit smoking! I'm that irritating person who just starts talking to anyone about anything! One of my colleagues actually said once 'what are you on about now?' Rude but it was an eye-opener.) If you have to, put a reminder in an Outlook calendar or an alarm on your desk to remind you to take regular breaks.
3. Of course there are days when I personally find it totally impossible to focus, just due to the sheer amount of things on the 'to do' list. What helps at those times is to write down all the stuff banging around my head to quite the 'panic' feeling my brain is going through, the mental 'fight or flight' reaction can shatter concentration. If all else fails, I take an herbal remedy called Kalms or drink a cup of tea. One or the other usually helps.
Good luck and let us know how you get on!
x T
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B]1/1/2007
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 355
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 8,165
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] �1,952.50
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 29 [B]Hrs:[/B] 13 [B]Mins:[/B] 17 [B]Seconds:[/B] 44
