James Corden takes regular seven-minute naps.

James Corden

James Corden

The 'Late Late Show' host couldn't live without his black sleep mask because he finds slipping it on and retreating from his hectic lifestyle for just a brief stint each day helps him to reset and recharge.

He said: "I try to carve out six or seven minutes of silence twice a day, which is where this thing (the sleep mask) comes in handy. Some people would call it meditating. But I don't do breathing exercises. I don't 'go' anywhere in particular. I just [put the mask on] and then when I'm done, it's like, restart!"

The 39-year-old presenter - who has children Max, six, and Carey, three, with pregnant wife Julia - pre-records his nightly talk show but is rarely awake to catch it on TV himself when it airs at 12.30am.

He admitted: "I try to be asleep by 10. I'm at my absolute happiest if I'm in bed by a quarter to 9."

And the British star has found efficient ways to use his time as he's adjusted to life in Los Angeles, so he uses the journey between home and work to catch up with his loved ones back home.

He told Fast Company magazine: "Because of the time difference between LA and England, either call my parents or my sisters and friends at home. I'll pretty much chat on the whole way in."

One of the reasons why James is often so tired is his insistence on doing things outside of his talk show job, including starring in films such as 'Into the Woods' and the upcoming 'Oceans Eight', running his production company, Fulwell 73, and recording music, but he wouldn't have it any other way or he'd lose his "creative mojo".

He said: "Talk-show host could be the easiest job in the world, if you wanted it to be. Monologue, desk bit, chat with a comedian, good night, and you're done. But that's not the sort of show I want to do. And what helps is doing all this other stuff.

"I know that if I didn't seek out and do things outside of this show, I'd lose my creative mojo. And I don't want that to happen.

"But it is so exhausting. What I've come to realise is that you just have to try to be present where've you are. You can't think about tomorrow or next week of even this afternoon. You just have to be the best version of yourself right now.

"Now, keep in mind, I'm saying this as someone who gets it wrong 25 times a day. I'm just saying this is what I strive for. It's the only way I know to have success."


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