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Your voice is important to us.
People who put their voice under great strain and use it as a tool in their normal working lives need to take good care of it.
This particularly applies to teachers, lecturers, kindergarten teachers, singers, actors, presenters, call centre employees, etc. For these professions, intensive and regular voice care is essential.
There are some simple and helpful tricks to keep your voice fit and to care for it in the long term so that you can overcome the challenges of (professional) life without your voice getting hoarse or cracking. “When you are standing in front of a class of 25 to 30 school pupils who want to talk about something completely different than you, you can image what my vocal cords have to go through every day. I am grateful for any help my voice can get. As soon as I notice that my mouth is getting dry and I am finding it harder and harder to speak, I immediately take a Grether’s Pastille. I hide it in my cheek as I am speaking, so that it can gradually dissolve. The pleasant effect and the fruity taste get me through the day. I then enjoy a hot cup of tea during my break. This stops me from getting hoarse at all.”
Tips for looking after your voice
Warm up your voice.
If you have a meeting or a performance, you should treat your voice to a brief warm-up routine to optimally prepare it for use. Just a few minutes will do. First you need to regulate your breathing. To do this, take a few deliberate, deep breaths. As you breathe out through your nose, warm up your vocal cords by making humming and buzzing sounds. To make your voice sound good and full, you need relaxed jaws. Push the balls of your thumbs against your cheeks below your cheekbones and massage in a clockwise circular motion with your mouth open. Yawning, shaking your head and grimacing also help to relax the jaw. Finally, make your whole body vibrate by making humming sounds. Then thump your chest with the palms of your hands and make OOH and AAH sounds. You should be as relaxed and loose as possible when performing these exercises.
Drink lots, and drink properly.
Your larynx needs regular moisture to stay supple when in use. Ideally, you should always have a drink close at hand. If this is not possible, always make sure you drink enough before and after performances. Mild drinks, especially warm ones such as water (still) and herbal teas are best. Cold drinks can cause cramp in the vocal cords. Milk should also be avoided, as it has a congesting effect.
And get some fresh air.
Your voice needs oxygen. Getting enough fresh air is good for your respiratory organs and improves concentration, endurance and energy. However, it is important to avoid draughts, especially from air conditioning systems. You should always keep a shawl or a scarf with you just in case – even in summer.
