As a young boy I read 'Cheaper by the Dozen' and immediately became neurotic about my use of time. It taxed me severely but only for the next 50 years. But I think it also allowed me to discipline myself to sit in the chair and be a writer where one of the most needed qualities is patience.
I have a lot of plants and fish and a pet lizard and Venus flytraps. I have a whole ecosystem in my room like a running waterfall and different lights and sensors set on digital timers.