What to do for a healthy voice

• Control your stress, don't hide it.
• Take measures to reduce stress.
• Get enough rest.
• Be happy. Your happiness will be reflected in your voice.
• Laugh a lot (with appropriate breathing support).
• Stay away from smoky places. Remember that everything you breathe passes through your most valuable instrument.
• Breathe into your abdomen, relax your abdomen as you breathe, let it push forwards and feel it lubricate.
• Eat well.
• Avoid milk and dairy products before the performance.
• Look at your body as a priceless instrument.
• Keep your bedroom moisturised, especially in winter.
• Choose your contraceptive pill in consultation with an ENT specialist.
• Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.
• Go to the clean toilet, say it clearly: ‘Breathe in, breathe out, say it clearly’.
• Take precautions against reflux.
• Rest your voice when you are tired.
• Reduce background noise from television and radio during speech.
• Do adequate warm-up exercises before singing.
• Do not smoke.
• Avoid breathing fumes and chemicals, use a mask if necessary.
• Limit alcohol consumption.
• Take singing lessons.
• Attend voice hygiene and performance classes.
• Avoid singing when you are ill. This is the leading cause of voice problems in voice professionals.
• Keep your telephone calls short.
• Seek medical help early when you have hoarseness.
• Remember, vocal hygiene is something that should be practised regularly, just like dental hygiene, and is a way to fine-tune your voice and maintain your long-term vocal health.
• Swallow instead of clearing your throat.
• Pay more attention to fluid intake as the weather starts to warm up.

Wishing you a healthy voice.