“I’ve found my productive writing-to-screwing around ratio to be one to seven. So for every eight hour day of writing, there is only one good productive hour of work being done. The other seven hours are preparing for writing: pacing around the house, collapsing cardboard boxes for recycling, reading the DVD extras pamphlet from the BBC “Pride and Prejudice”, getting snacks lined up for writing, and YouTubing toddlers who learned the “Single Ladies” dance. I know. Isn’t that horrible? So basically, writing this piece took me the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Enjoy it accordingly.”

-Mindy Kaling, from her book, “Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?“