Keep your voice healthy this winters with these simple tips.

Singers AND NON-singers…we all need healthy voices. Your voice is your communication. A healthy voice means a healthy body. If you suffer from allergies, wake up with a sore throat, always get the flu in the winter, these health tips are for you. I’ve been using them for years and I’m happy to share them with you.

I have to keep my voice healthy 24/7. I never know when I am going to be called into a vocal session, sing at a gig, teach a lesson, have a phone meeting, etc…my voice is my work. I take extra care to keep my voice healthy in the winter months that can be cruel on the vocal chords. Combine that with allergies and we are all in for a mess in the winter. Gross.  Here is what I have found to work for me to keep my voice healthy year round.

1. HYDRATE: I know we all know this one. Drink water water water. Hydration is the key to a healthy voice. I drink 1 Liter for every 50 lbs. of body weight. Water helps your body produce mucous, mucous keeps your chords lubricated and allow them to move with ease when producing sound. Besides all the other wonderful benefits of hydration. Water also helps flush the toxins from your body keeping your body healthy and strong enough to fight germs. I like to drink 2 glasses of water first thing in the morning with lemon. I carry a bottle of water with me the rest of the day and keep sipping.

2. SLEEP: Without enough sleep your muscles cannot perform at their best. Your vocal chords are muscles. You need adequate sleep to make sure: 1. Your body is healthy and fighting off winter flu & viruses and 2. Your vocal chords and body are strong and rested enough to perform at peak level when it comes to speaking and singing. If I don’t get enough sleep, I have a hard time singing. And there is no fix for a tired voice but rest.

3. SCARF: My vocal teacher gave me this tip when I was very young and I still use it to this day. It might sound obvious, but cover up! A scarf protects your neck from the cold, keeping your vocal chords warm and safe. Personally, if I get sick it always starts in my throat. Wearing a scarf helps keep the fortress strong around your treasured vocal area.

4. MANUKA HONEY: This is a delicious one. Manuka honey is a honey known to have antibacterial qualities. It boosts your immunity and helps fight allergies and viruses. Warm water, Manuka honey, and lots of lemon. Sooo yummy, and so good for you. Manuka Honey is also used to heal wounds and disease. Read about Manuka Honey on WebMD .

5. HUMIDIFIER: The winter months make everything dry. Your skin, hair, nails, AND throat. And then your heater sucks whatever moisture might be left in the room out and dries us up completely. Sleeping with the heater on can make you wake up feeling dehydrated, similar to the feeling of being hung over. Invest in a humidifier to combat the moisture sucking heater and winter wind. They are not that expensive and do wonders for your voice. They also help your skin stay hydrated in the winter. Well well worth it. Keep your voice hydrated and healthy.

6. WARM UPS- Do your vocal warm ups. See some of my other videos. And give yourself a little extra time to warm up that voice. The cold can constrict the chords, do some slow and relaxing warm ups to start and add a couple extra minutes to your warm up routine if need be. Don’t judge yourself for taking a little longer to get that voice moving.

7. NASAL RISE: Another trick I LOVE is the neti pot. I know it’s super odd and a little awkward to do in the beginning, but it’s soooooo good. Warm water, saline solution and rinse it through your nasal cavity with a neti pot. It rehydrates your sinus, flushes out the toxins, keeping the bad guys away and repopulates with the good guys. More on WebMD 

8. AVOID alcohol/caffeine: I know you can’t always avoid these items. But they are both really dehydrating for your body. If you are feeling vocal fatigue and a little cold coming in, avoid these two items for a little while.

Stay warm and healthy friends.

As always, please feel free to ask questions and comment below. Follow for more updates.