--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I'm really working on something…" description: "\"If I'm really working on something, writing or painting or really concentrating, I don't even think about brushing my hair.\" — Patti Smith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/943/patti-smith-394_brushing_if-i-m-really-working-on-something-writi_1221859.jpg" --- # If I'm really working on something, writing or painting or… ![“If I'm really working on something, writing or painting or really concentrating, I don't even think about brushing my hair.” quote by Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/943/patti-smith-394_brushing_if-i-m-really-working-on-something-writi_1221859.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/943/patti-smith-394_brushing_if-i-m-really-working-on-something-writi_1221859.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/943/patti-smith-394_brushing_if-i-m-really-working-on-something-writi_1221859.jpg) > “If I'm really working on something, writing or painting or really concentrating, I don't even think about brushing my hair.” [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Deep immersion in creative work can eclipse mundane concerns, showing how total focus transforms ordinary tasks into background noise. **In simple terms:** When fully focused, trivial worries fade away. Key Takeaway Allow deep focus to dominate your work. Themes focus creativity mindfulness Mood introspective focused Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - writing sessions - painting - performance rehearsals - study periods Key Concepts concentration artistic flow distraction management Questions to Reflect On - How does deep focus affect your daily life? - What boundaries help maintain balance? A Different Perspective Constant immersion can lead to neglect of self‑care or relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hair/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Take all the hype out of the exercise and think of it as brushing your teeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-ari-parker/take-all-the-hype-out-of-the-exercise-and-think-of-it-as-brushing/) [Nicole Ari Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-ari-parker/) > [Growing up, I would have to watch the other children and learn from my mistakes. I would have to push myself to overcome the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-tammet/growing-up-i-would-have-to-watch-the-other-children-and-learn-from-my/) [Daniel Tammet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-tammet/) > [I just love to draw. It's very intense for me. The day will just go by like the snap of a finger. A lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-brett/i-just-love-to-draw-it-s-very-intense-for-me-the-day-will-just-go-by/) [Jan Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-brett/) > [I like to address all parts of my game, but I'm really concentrating a lot of time with my coach, David Whelan, on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-creamer/i-like-to-address-all-parts-of-my-game-but-i-m-really-concentrating-a/) [Paula Creamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-creamer/) > [Brushing my hair, do I look perfect? I forgot what to do to fit the mold, yeah! The more I try the less is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-j/brushing-my-hair-do-i-look-perfect-i-forgot-what-to-do-to-fit-the/) [Jessie J](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-j/) > [I used to hate my hair. Now I love it. I spend hours brushing my hair out after it dries. I love it when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-collins/i-used-to-hate-my-hair-now-i-love-it-i-spend-hours-brushing-my-hair/) [Petra Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-collins/) > [I bet if I was a hot chick and I left a status that said Im brushing my hair. It would get about 50 likes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azgraybebly-joslan/i-bet-if-i-was-a-hot-chick-and-i-left-a-status-that-said-im-brushing/) Azgraybebly Joslan > ['Downton Abbey'. I love all things olden-days, and I'm very interested in somebody brushing my hair out at the end of the night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-st-clair/downton-abbey-i-love-all-things-olden-days-and-i-m-very-interested-in/) [Jessica St. Clair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-st-clair/) > [And of course there is nothing better than wearing the same T-shirt for days and not brushing my hair for weeks,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daria-werbowy/and-of-course-there-is-nothing-better-than-wearing-the-same-t-shirt/) [Daria Werbowy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daria-werbowy/) > [“A pony who lives outdoors usually has healthy skin and hair and does not need to be groomed daily, except to get him clean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-e-harris/a-pony-who-lives-outdoors-usually-has-healthy-skin-and-hair-and-does/) Susan E. Harris > [If you exchanged wedding vows, tape them to your bathroom mirror and read them aloud to yourself every morning along with the ritual brushing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/if-you-exchanged-wedding-vows-tape-them-to-your-bathroom-mirror-and/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [If she gags when brushing her teeth, she isn't wife material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/if-she-gags-when-brushing-her-teeth-she-isn-t-wife-material/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [If you are capable of brushing your teeth in mindfulness, then you will be able to enjoy the time when you take a shower,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-are-capable-of-brushing-your-teeth-in-mindfulness-then-you/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [All that the Devil asks is acquiescence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-massie/all-that-the-devil-asks-is-acquiescence/) [Suzanne Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-massie/) > [ He \[A. J. Balfour\] was eminently one of the Cole Porter school of famous men, who only fell to rise again. Picking himself up… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-balfour/he-a-j-balfour-was-eminently-one-of-the-cole-porter-school-of-famous/) [Arthur Balfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-balfour/) ## More by Patti Smith > [I had a really happy childhood - my siblings were great, my mother was very fanciful, and I loved to read. But there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-had-a-really-happy-childhood-my-siblings-were-great-my-mother-was/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [As a citizen, hopefully I'm humanist. As an artist, I'm free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/as-a-citizen-hopefully-i-m-humanist-as-an-artist-i-m-free/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [ Sometimes \[people\] seem to think I came out of the womb, you know, cursing, with an electric guitar. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/sometimes-people-seem-to-think-i-came-out-of-the-womb-you-know/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [“Inside it he inscribed a few lines of poetry, portraying us as the gypsy and the fool, one creating silence; one listening closely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/inside-it-he-inscribed-a-few-lines-of-poetry-portraying-us-as-the/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Who can know the heart of youth but youth itself?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/who-can-know-the-heart-of-youth-but-youth-itself/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [“I clawed through a thick web of the culture’s consciousness that I hadn’t known existed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-clawed-through-a-thick-web-of-the-culture-s-consciousness-that-i/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Ultimately, we are not seeking others to bow to, but to reinforce our individual natures, to help us suffer our own choices, to guide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/ultimately-we-are-not-seeking-others-to-bow-to-but-to-reinforce-our/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [If I'm taking a picture of Brancusi's grave, I know that there's something of him, of his mortal remains, beneath my feet, and there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/if-i-m-taking-a-picture-of-brancusi-s-grave-i-know-that-there-s/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I'm certain, as we filled down the great staircase, that I appeared the same as ever, a moping twelve years-old, all arms and legs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-m-certain-as-we-filled-down-the-great-staircase-that-i-appeared-the/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [In art and dream may you proceed with abandon. In life may you proceed with balance and stealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/in-art-and-dream-may-you-proceed-with-abandon-in-life-may-you-proceed/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [New York is the thing that seduced me. New York is the thing that formed me. New York is the thing that deformed me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/new-york-is-the-thing-that-seduced-me-new-york-is-the-thing-that/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I don't wanna be equal with anybody. I wanna be above equal. I don't think most people are equal to me. I'd like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-don-t-wanna-be-equal-with-anybody-i-wanna-be-above-equal-i-don-t/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I think I'm constantly in a state of adjustment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-think-i-m-constantly-in-a-state-of-adjustment/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Somehow I started introducing writing into my drawings, and after a time, the language took over and I started getting very involved with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/somehow-i-started-introducing-writing-into-my-drawings-and-after-a/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I'm okay with roaming around the world in my bunk for days on end. Maybe every third day I'll get a shower or stumble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-m-okay-with-roaming-around-the-world-in-my-bunk-for-days-on-end/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) [Explore all 595 Patti Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) ## More Brushing quotes > [ He \[A. J. Balfour\] was eminently one of the Cole Porter school of famous men, who only fell to rise again. Picking himself up… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-balfour/he-a-j-balfour-was-eminently-one-of-the-cole-porter-school-of-famous/) [Arthur Balfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-balfour/) > [All that the Devil asks is acquiescence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-massie/all-that-the-devil-asks-is-acquiescence/) [Suzanne Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-massie/) > [And of course there is nothing better than wearing the same T-shirt for days and not brushing my hair for weeks,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daria-werbowy/and-of-course-there-is-nothing-better-than-wearing-the-same-t-shirt/) [Daria Werbowy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daria-werbowy/) > [If you are capable of brushing your teeth in mindfulness, then you will be able to enjoy the time when you take a shower,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-are-capable-of-brushing-your-teeth-in-mindfulness-then-you/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Growing up, I would have to watch the other children and learn from my mistakes. I would have to push myself to overcome the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-tammet/growing-up-i-would-have-to-watch-the-other-children-and-learn-from-my/) [Daniel Tammet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-tammet/) > [If she gags when brushing her teeth, she isn't wife material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/if-she-gags-when-brushing-her-teeth-she-isn-t-wife-material/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [If you exchanged wedding vows, tape them to your bathroom mirror and read them aloud to yourself every morning along with the ritual brushing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/if-you-exchanged-wedding-vows-tape-them-to-your-bathroom-mirror-and/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [“A pony who lives outdoors usually has healthy skin and hair and does not need to be groomed daily, except to get him clean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-e-harris/a-pony-who-lives-outdoors-usually-has-healthy-skin-and-hair-and-does/) Susan E. Harris > [I don't mess around when it comes to brushing my teeth. Properly brushed, twice a day, every day, to get my day started.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-cruz/i-don-t-mess-around-when-it-comes-to-brushing-my-teeth-properly/) [Victor Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-cruz/) > [What I find really works for me is dry body brushing; it helps improve the circulation and exfoliates your skin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-kerr/what-i-find-really-works-for-me-is-dry-body-brushing-it-helps-improve/) [Miranda Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-kerr/) > [I don't think it's man's function to write. I don't think it's a normal thing like teeth-brushing and going to the bathroom. It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/i-don-t-think-it-s-man-s-function-to-write-i-don-t-think-it-s-a/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [You cannot keep on saying oh, you know, talking about disrespecting women as just being politically correct or it's not a big deal or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/you-cannot-keep-on-saying-oh-you-know-talking-about-disrespecting/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) > [I could've enjoyed a cigarette if I smoked back before everyone knew it was bad - say, like, 1923. Everybody smoked back then. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arj-barker/i-could-ve-enjoyed-a-cigarette-if-i-smoked-back-before-everyone-knew/) [Arj Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arj-barker/) > [Brushing your teeth six times before you go to the dentist so they think you have really good teeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/brushing-your-teeth-six-times-before-you-go-to-the-dentist-so-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Ritual he liked, but compulsory routine he hated. Thus, he resented every minute that he now had to surrender to showering, shampooing, shaving, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/ritual-he-liked-but-compulsory-routine-he-hated-thus-he-resented/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) Browse all 92 Brushing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I'm really working on something, writing or painting or really concentrating, I don't even think about brushing my hair.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Patti Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/if-i-m-really-working-on-something-writing-or-painting-or-really/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brushing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/if-i-m-really-working-on-something-writing-or-painting-or-really/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/943/patti-smith-394_brushing_if-i-m-really-working-on-something-writi_1221859.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/943/patti-smith-394_brushing_if-i-m-really-working-on-something-writi_1221859.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/943/patti-smith-394_brushing_if-i-m-really-working-on-something-writi_1221859.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If I'm really working on something, writing or painting or really concentrating, I don't even think about…” — Patti Smith", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Patti Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If I'm really working on something,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/if-i-m-really-working-on-something-writing-or-painting-or-really/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/if-i-m-really-working-on-something-writing-or-painting-or-really/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```