5:40
- culture
- March 20, 2020
Ellie Kemper on taking things 10 seconds at a time
"You have to manage it in finite chunks, otherwise you’ll get overwhelmed."
Video by Will Linendoll, Nidhi Singh
5:40
Kemper gave birth to her son Matthew in September 2019 and says being a mom has taught her a lot about patience.
\"You can’t lose your temper because kids will try your patience, but you have to be the calm one,\" she said.
This is where the mantra she learned from her character Kimmy Schmidt comes in. When her kids are crying or screaming, Kemper tries to take 10 seconds to breathe it out because it will pass, and to enjoy the moments when children are young because they grow up so quickly.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/GMA/ellie-kemper-startraks-ht-jc-200319_hpMain_4x3t_384.jpg\")
“Self-care is very important to me.”
The importance of it became more apparent to her after having a child. When she felt she was losing her patience or temper, Kemper said she realized she had to take care of herself to be a good mom.
\"I tried to always carve out 20 minutes in my day or something where I can just be alone drinking a cup of coffee,\" she said, adding that exercise also helps her calm down and keep things in perspective.
But most importantly, just take out the time and strike that healthy balance -- even if it only is for 10 minutes.
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