--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was reading an article in the 'New York…" description: "\"I was reading an article in the 'New York Times;' it talked about being in the zone, and being in the zone you're so focused that time ceases to exist...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/steve-martin-593_about_i-was-reading-an-article-in-the-new-york_1135352.jpg" --- # I was reading an article in the 'New York Times;' it… ![“I was reading an article in the 'New York Times;' it talked about being in the zone, and being in the zone you're so focused that time ceases to exist. It's when you think, 'Oh, I've been doing this for five hours and didn't even know it.' It's the difference between hard work and going, '12…” quote by Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/steve-martin-593_about_i-was-reading-an-article-in-the-new-york_1135352.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/steve-martin-593_about_i-was-reading-an-article-in-the-new-york_1135352.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/steve-martin-593_about_i-was-reading-an-article-in-the-new-york_1135352.jpg) > “I was reading an article in the 'New York Times;' it talked about being in the zone, and being in the zone you're so focused that time ceases to exist. It's when you think, 'Oh, I've been doing this for five hours and didn't even know it.' It's the difference between hard work and going, '12 o'clock, not moving.'” [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Deep focus creates a timeless zone where effort feels effortless, distinguishing true immersion from mere busywork. **In simple terms:** Being in the zone makes time disappear and work feel easy. Key Takeaway Cultivate deep focus for productivity. Themes productivity mindfulness flow Mood reflective inspired Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - creative projects - study sessions - athletic training - writing Key Concepts psychology performance time perception Questions to Reflect On - What activities bring you into flow? - How can you structure work to enter the zone more often? A Different Perspective Sustaining flow can be hard without clear goals or breaks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Article](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/article/) [Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Between](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/between/) [Ceases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ceases/) [Difference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difference/) [Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) [Doing Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-hours-2125442/) [Even](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/even/) [Exist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exist/) [Five](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five/) [Focused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focused/) [Focused Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focused-time-1904909/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [New york times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york-times/) [Oh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oh/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Talked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talked/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Ceases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-ceases-275174/) [Times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/times/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/york/) [York Times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/york-times/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) [Zone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zone/) [Zone Focused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zone-focused-3139014/) ## Related quotes > [“So here we have purposeful practice in a nutshell: Get outside your comfort zone but do it in a focused way, with clear goals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-ericsson/so-here-we-have-purposeful-practice-in-a-nutshell-get-outside-your/) [Anders Ericsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anders-ericsson/) > [I'm doing four hours of gymnastics training a day, six days a week and then an extra two to three hours in a fitness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-johnson/i-m-doing-four-hours-of-gymnastics-training-a-day-six-days-a-week-and/) [Shawn Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-johnson/) > [When you're really serious about ballet, it's a job - even if you're 15 years old. 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Time ceases to have any meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-takes-on-a-neat-simplicity-too-time-ceases-to-have-any-meaning/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Distance changes utterly when you take the world on foot. A mile becomes a long way, two miles literally considerable, ten miles whopping, fifty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/distance-changes-utterly-when-you-take-the-world-on-foot-a-mile/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [Three hours of focused time on the projects that will really add value and uplift your career are so much better than 10 hours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-s-sharma/three-hours-of-focused-time-on-the-projects-that-will-really-add/) [Robin S. Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-s-sharma/) > [We are very focused this time and our preparation has been better. 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I was always focused on somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-lee-miller/i-was-never-focused-on-me-me-me-all-the-time-i-was-always-focused-on/) [Abby Lee Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-lee-miller/) > [The more you are focused on time-past and future-the more you miss the Now, the most precious thing there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-more-you-are-focused-on-time-past-and-future-the-more-you-miss/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [We're really focused on being 'of no time.' 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A singer, an actor, a dancer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/what-i-mean-is-that-none-of-my-talents-had-a-what-s-that-great-word/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) [Explore all 453 Steve Martin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. 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