How to Protect Your Voice in High-Stress Seasons

A Guide for LA Speakers, Coaches, and Performers

The holidays are coming, and if you’re like many of my clients here in LA, your calendar is already filling up with more meetings, presentations, networking events, rehearsals, and performances.

This time of year brings excitement… but also more pressure. More people to talk to.. More rooms to command. More hours using your voice without a break.

And here’s the thing I want you to hear loud and clear:

Your voice is not a machine. It’s a living instrument. One that responds to stress, your environment, and the way you care for it. 

If you’re not mindful, this season can take a toll on your voice and affect your endurance, clarity, and confidence.

Let’s talk about why and what you can do to protect your voice before it starts to give out on you.

How Stress Shows Up in Your Voice

High stress doesn’t just live in your head. It lives in your body, and yes, it can show up in your throat, too. 

When you’re overwhelmed, your breathing becomes shallow, your jaw and neck tense up, and your vocal folds start working overtime to keep up.

That’s when vocal tension, fatigue, and hoarseness begin to creep in.

Add in a dry environment (hello, heater season), back-to-back speaking engagements, and long days of networking or coaching, and you’ve got the perfect storm for vocal burnout.

But here’s the good news: you don’t need to cancel your calendar or whisper your way through the season (did I say “whisper” - let’s definitely stay away from that). 

With a few simple voice-friendly habits, you can stay strong, keep showing up, and protect your voice at the same time.

The Vocal Reset

5-day formula for speaking and singing professionals who rely on their voice every day.

Command attention and protect your most valuable asset.

Your Voice Mirrors Your Internal State

Before we discuss tactics, let’s take a step back.

Your voice reflects what’s happening in your body. When your nervous system is in “go go go” mode, your voice can start to feel tight, tense, or unreliable. 

That’s why I always remind my clients: a calm body leads to a steady voice. 

In high-stress seasons, it’s essential to check in with your breath, your pace, and your internal state. 

Even just a moment of grounding,  like a few deep, nasal breaths before a presentation, can create real change in how your voice comes out.

Vocal Health Habits That Make a Difference

Here are a few voice-saving strategies I recommend to speakers, coaches, and performers in high-demand seasons like this:

1. Prioritize Hydration

The vocal folds function best when they’re well-lubricated. And with indoor heat blasting and more talking than usual, it’s easy to dry out.

Keep that water bottle close, and sip regularly throughout the day.

2. Use a Humidifier at Night

LA air is notoriously dry, especially in fall and winter.

Adding moisture to your sleeping space with a bedside humidifier helps your voice recover overnight and stay more resilient during the day.

3. Regulate Your Nervous System

Nervous system overload = vocal overload.

The vagus nerve plays a key role in regulating your parasympathetic nervous system, the “rest and digest” state that helps counteract stress. When this nerve is supported and your system is more regulated, your voice tends to feel freer, steadier, and less strained.

Simple practices like nasal breathing and gentle stretches can help reduce tension and improve vocal ease.

4. Warm Up (Even Just a Little)

You don’t need to do a full vocal workout,  but a few minutes of gentle warm-up before your first call or event can make a huge difference in how your voice feels and functions. Check out the on-the-go vocal reset for easy vocal warm-ups.

5. Avoid These Common Voice Wreckers

Frequent throat clearing, shouting over noise, or powering through fatigue are habits that chip away at vocal health. Listen to your voice. If it feels strained or tired, it’s trying to tell you something.  

The Vocal Reset

5-day formula for speaking and singing professionals who rely on their voice every day.

Command attention and protect your most valuable asset.

Serving LA’s High-Demand Voice Users

Whether you’re leading a team, running a business, or performing live, your voice is your livelihood.

In a city like Los Angeles, where visibility and influence are everything, your voice becomes your signature.

On stage, on camera, or in the boardroom, how you sound shapes how you are perceived.

This isn’t just about technique. In the entertainment capital of the world, your voice is your calling card, your personal brand, and your most powerful performance asset. It’s how you lead. How you connect.  How you stand out.

And when your voice carries your message, your mission, and your identity, protecting it becomes non-negotiable.

Your voice doesn’t need to suffer just because your schedule is packed. 

With a few smart adjustments — from hydration and environment to mindset and breath — you can keep your voice feeling steady, clear, and strong, even in the busiest seasons.

Want a guided way to get started?

The Vocal Reset is my go-to tool for helping clients bounce back fast when their voice starts to feel strained or tired. It walks you through five easy steps to restore ease and clarity, and it only takes a few minutes a day.

Because when your voice is your livelihood, it deserves care that works as hard as you do.