The process of cell division is cyclic; that is, after a certain period of time, the cell is returned to a starting point. Mitosis and cytokinesis are the visible parts of this cycle, but they are not the principal part at least in terms of a time scale.
Cell Cycle via kwout
Most of the time cells are at the stage of interphase.
Interphase is the stage in the cycle when the chromosomes are not condensed, and when most of the net synthesis required for the formation of new cells takes place.
In keeping with the general emphasis on events in the nucleus (an emphasis which may well be considered to be misplaced), the mitotic cycle is divided into stages which are named in terms of DNA replication and chromosome condensation.
Thus mitosis (M) is followed by interphase; and interphase itself consists of three stages. G₁ (a gap, during which no DNA synthesis occurs), S (the replication phase of DNA) and G₂ (a second gap)
See Arizona.edu's The Cell Cycle & Mitosis Tutorial for more info.