Those of you who have worked with me likely know that I have been a burnt out pile of goo many times in my voice-over career. Even while my success was rising, I was crashing-and-burning. A lot. I finally went on a deep quest for tools that would stop that cycle, and found gorgeous effective answers. Let’s chat about it, and go over a yummy list of tools to keep you in peak form as you navigate this wild VO industry.
- Vocal Health: The Core
You know this: your voice is your instrument, and taking care of it is non-negotiable. You may not know: it takes one hundred muscles to produce speech (so, “Um…” equals one hundred muscles in action), and in addition there is no such thing as Just Vocal Health. Everything is connected – and anything going on in your mind/body/emotions/life will absolutely show up in your VO. Here are ideas for keeping in powerful shape:
Water you waiting for? Take a drink!
Tightly-Capped Hydration: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep vocal cords hydrated. I also need the reminder: one of my favorite mentors says that 15 minutes of intense creativity can actually dehydrate us. Be kind to yourself and give your body what it needs to help tell those stories. Caffeine and alcohol dehydrate; be mindful of them before you step in front of the mic. A humidifier in your studio or home can also help maintain vocal cord moisture, especially in drier environments. Singers swear by these, and lots of options are available at drug stores and online.
Warm-Ups and Cool-Downs: Just like athletes, VO artists need to warm up before and cool down after sessions. If you are not doing this already, even two minutes of gentle massage of head and neck and face will help! Mere minutes make a wild difference in how you feel (and perform) in your studio. Simple exercises like lip trills and robust humming prepare your voice for the work. Post-session, you can use soft humming or light singing to cool down your vocal cords – pick your favorite song for the day!
Vocal Rest: Give your voice a break. This is super important after long sessions, whether you are still in the audition phase or are actively working. Schedule periods of complete vocal rest, refraining from talking or whispering, to allow your vocal cords to recover. Even an hour or two of conscious rest to start is fantastic. You likely know that Broadway singers, in order to be able to sing nine shows a week, sometimes go on complete vocal rest between performances, and communicate with a white board and marker!
- Physical Well-Being: The Foundation of Resilience
A healthy body allows a strong voice. As mentioned above, we can shine a spotlight on vocal health for a moment, however the full picture is only seen when we widen the lens to include whole body care. Try adding any one of these practices into your routine:
Exercise: Regular physical activity rocks. It not only enhances your overall well-being – it can also improve your breath control, which is vital for voice-over work. So many VO artists at the start either feel like they cannot get enough air, or feel like their breaths are loud enough to be heard from space. Activities like yoga, Pilates, or swimming are great for building core strength and lung capacity. Even a daily walk can make a difference. Choose one thing you enjoy, even fifteen minutes worth, and sprinkle it in.
Posture: I often say that I want clients and students to be ferociously comfortable when recording, because it makes a huge difference both to the fullness of your read and your long-term wellbeing. How is your posture when recording? Sit or stand with your back straight, shoulders relaxed, and feet flat on the ground, eyes gently looking forward and seeing your copy. This position allows for proper breath and neck and shoulder support, and reduces strain on your voice. We never want to be looking up, down, left or right to record, as over time this will likely make your body very unhappy and send you to a chiropractor! Happy posture equals happy VO life.
Food: We know this, and it’s a great reminder…you can actually hear when you step in front of a mic and have had delicious food that throws your unique system out of balance. Examples: awesome ice cream which produces clogged sounding VO, yummy coffee which dehydrates and makes your vocals sound strained, sassy spicy anything which causes inflammation and can constrict sound, and the list goes on. We are meant to enjoy our lives and eat the foods we love, and now that you are a VO artist, the awareness that what you eat affects your VO life is a gift. Adding more of whatever foods your body loves can help maintain everything from your energy levels to your phenomenal clear sounding VO.
- Mental Health: Balancing the Emotional Scales
This is an important truth: the VO industry can be mentally challenging. Mindset work is a big piece of keeping yourself in a good place. Challenges can come from auditions, real or imagined pressure to perform, or not booking the job (notice I did NOT say rejection here – because this coachess believes every audition invite is a huge win, and that’s another blog entirely). Maintaining mental well-being is simply essential if we are to enjoy the ride, which I want all of us to do. Here are some ideas:
Mindfulness and Meditation: Practice mindfulness or meditation to stay present and reduce anxiety. Short sessions can help clear your mind and reduce stress, even one minute, which is amazing. Apps like Headspace, 10% Happier, or Calm offer guided sessions that can be easily incorporated into your daily routine. I also love Insight Timer, which is free to download and allows you to choose a meditation based on how much time you have, from one minute all the way up to a full hour, and everything in between.
Set Realistic Goals: The path to a successful VO career is a marathon, never a sprint. Set achievable short-term goals to keep motivated, and track your progress to keep inspired. Celebrate small victories along the way to stay positive. Let me say that again: celebrate small victories along the way. This means: YAY, you sent the email! YAY you looked at a new script. Tiny things deserve celebrating, and this habit will nourish you. Lean into support. If you already have a VO Village, make use of them. If you have a fellow VO human who would be a good Accountability Buddy, try it out.
- Spiritual Well-Being: Finding Purpose and Joy
Nurturing your spirit is an important part of your voice-over self-care, and will build the resilience muscle you need to pursue VO dreams. Some thoughts…
Creative Outlets: Engage in activities that inspire you and fuel your creativity outside of VO World, whether it’s writing, painting, cooking, crafting, camping, singing or playing an instrument. These pursuits can bring joy and a sense of accomplishment, enhancing your overall well-being. Plus, all that joy and enjoyment automatically enriches and deepens your VO life and reads.
Gratitude Practice: Keeping a gratitude journal can shift your focus from challenges to opportunities, fostering a positive mindset. One thing to try if you are not already doing something like this is a daily gratitude list, either out loud or in your head or written. “I am grateful for…” ten times, each with a different answer, nothing too big or too small.
Take Breaks: Please do not underestimate the power of rest. Schedule time away from VO work, and all work, to recharge. Whether it’s a weekend getaway, a hobby, or simply a day off, breaks are essential for preventing burnout and maintaining enthusiasm for your journey. The VO World is not going anywhere, and will be happy to see you when you return, refreshed.
Conclusion
A successful voice-over career requires more than just oodles of your big talent: it demands a holistic approach to self-care to balance the demands of this career path. By pouring even the teeniest bit of time into awareness around your vocal health, physical well-being, mental stability, and spiritual nourishment, you can sustain your passion-and-energy in the competitive, creative VO industry. Self-care is far from a voice-over luxury. It’s a VO necessity, ensuring that you can continue to pursue your dreams with vigor and joy, and feel really darn good while traveling the entire wondrous road.
Check out our free PDF with pro tips from real working voice-over actors here!
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