Self-care for Voice Overs, Creatives and Sports People

This was written for VOs but the advice works for everyone.

We have all heard the importance of self-care but often our own needs are way down the to-do list. 

One of the first things to be affected by anxiety, worry, fear, stress and tiredness is our voice. Many VO artists will have a voice regimen but forget everything else. You are not only your voice.

Ensuring good health, well-being and success requires focus in mind, comfort of body and a happy spirit. You need to be good at your discipline as well as marketing, bookkeeping, finances, time, stress management and family commitments. Sometimes it can seem overwhelming. 

The support structure; the conduit between you and your customer/end user needs to be as frictionless as possible and one aspect of this is the well-being of the human part in this process. Much of what I describe here would be of benefit to many people involved in pre, during and post production.

The following tips help me and even though I do have a magic wand your way is the one that will work for you.

When you are ready to record, a ritual can be a good habit to instigate. It sets the scene literally and metaphorically. Maybe a few positive affirmations, preparing a glass of water, cartwheels around the garden or completing your asanas is the way.  

Whatever works is good but it is not set in stone. I know people who are unable to flow without their pre-work routine but it is important to not allow the ritual to rule you. You are in charge of you and it might be that just the intention is all you need. 

Mind

A cluttered mind is not conducive to helping yourself let alone others so the first thing is to clear-out extraneous thoughts. These can present themselves as doubts, niggles, the to-do list and a variety of other issues that seem to do their utmost to prevent clear focus. Busy getting nowhere is a frustrating loop and the fear of starting a new way of self-care coupled with business minding can be enough to stop everything working.

Doing something repetitive but not too challenging can fire up the artistic muse and make her burst forth with glee. Changing things up can help to shift brain-state. Try self-hypnosis, meditating, singing, doodling, colouring, nature walks, journaling, and or listing your gratitudes. 

Body

Comfort is paramount. If you enter the mind-state of flow, time disappears and before you know it hours have passed. You only ‘come back’ because your neck has locked, words lose meaning, you can no longer feel your feet or bladder burst feels imminent. Voice artists experience this. A lot.

Stretching, walking, massage and swimming are perfect remedies. But, better still is to ensure posture and position are perfect before beginning. If you are not able to move about, try tightening and releasing targeted muscles.

Something seemingly simple like applying hand-cream can trigger body calmness. Try this yourself by applying cream to your hands and continue up to your elbows. Really work your thumbs into those muscles and enjoy the relief as the tingles flutter up to the back of your neck. Doing this at the same time as your vocal warm-up exercises can have a profound effect.

Spirit

Feeling free to be in flow is our spirit’s natural state. We do, however, tend to do all we can to hinder that but when we are in a congruent state of mind, body and spirit our emotions balance and flow.

When you have finished working either on your marketing, recording, producing, auditioning or anything else it is important to acknowledge your success. It is about enjoying the journey or the game. Sometimes you might feel cross because you think you haven’t done enough. You have. If you get a grump-on with yourself you run the risk of setting up a negative pattern.

Your spirit wants you to share your talents but displacement activities can be best friends when it comes to marketing or self-promotion.

If you are nervous about putting yourself 'out there'. This can be helped by setting specific times for self and business management and honouring that. 

Three Breaths Mini-meditation 

Breathe in slowly and: 

1st breath - Think, feel or say to yourself, “aware” as you breathe out

2nd breath - Think, feel or say to yourself, “breath” as you breathe out

3rd breath -  Think, feel or say to yourself, “calm” as you breathe out

Remember 123 ABC

Best self-care tips

Play

Hydrate

Nourish

Calm nervous system

Get support

Share your knowledge

Optimum health, well-being and success comes from creation rather than reaction. Do not wait until something breaks.

The world needs you. You’ve got this. You matter.

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The picture is me in an infinity pool at Evia Hotel, Evia, Greece.