The coronavirus pandemic has unified us in many ways — one of the most common being the adjustment to a new normal in both our personal and professional lives. Navigating during this pandemic has transitioned us from a face‐to-face workplace to one filled with meetings via telecommunications.

It has also given us an increased opportunity to connect and spend quality time with loved ones and immediate family at home.

For many, these new methodologies of conducting business, as well as social activities, may result in not only mental fatigue but also vocal fatigue. Vocal fatigue is a general term used to describe tiredness or weakness of the voice, which may be due to increased or improper use.

Symptoms of vocal fatigue include hoarseness, diminished vocal range, lower volume and/or neck muscle tenderness or soreness.

It is important to first address the distinction between a vocal overdoer (one who is highly talkative) and a vocal underdoer (one who typically uses his or her voice sparingly, often in a guarded or held back manner). However, given the new realities of COVID‐19, many of us now fit into the category of "professional voice user" — anyone whose career or livelihood depends on the use of his or her voice.

This transition might be fine for the talkative overdoer who is used to speaking all the time, but it may be a bit more difficult for the underdoer who is not used to using his or her voice as much as they are now — especially in sporadic bursts causing rapid fatigue.

Whether a vocal underdoer or overdoer, below are a few strategies that may be helpful in tackling the multiple telecommunications you may be encountering daily:

Watch your posture.

Don't round your shoulders. Most of us are guilty of this and it’s okay.

Now that we are at the peak of social distancing, you may find yourself in a more comfortable environment, and inevitably find yourself slouching more. This may limit your ability to take a full breath and limit the volume in your voice.

If you find that people are having difficulty hearing you during meetings, take a deep breath, reset and try sitting up straighter in order to project your voice better.

Make sure there is minimal movement in your upper (clavicular/collar bone) area.

Keep that area of your body open and make sure you're properly aligned. Think "down and out" instead of "bottom‐up" when you take a breath.

You can even provide yourself with some tactile cueing with a hand near your lower abdominals while you're speaking. When you take a breath, you should feel the lower part of your body expand.

Keeping a mirror in front of your computer can also help with this; if you see your chest and/or shoulders raising, redirect that energy to your lower abdomen.

Learning to correctly posture your larynx (voice box) and vocal tract.

The first step in good voice production involves this practice for maximal vocal efficiency.

This involves a low, relaxed larynx and palatal lifting (roof of the mouth). Then, it must be coordinated with good breathing.

Keep checking in with your body to be sure you aren't feeling tight and constricted in your laryngeal area. If you feel tightness in your throat while speaking, it usually means the muscles which surround your voice box, are working too hard.

Attempt to create a feeling of a wide, dilated neck – similar to a yawn but without using your jaw and tongue. Make sure you aren't pushing or squeezing to make sound.

Warm up and cool down.

Remember raspberries (lip buzzes) as a kid? Those are great to get your voice going first thing in the morning. Start at a low pitch and go high and come back down again — like a siren.

This will provide a good stretch to your vocal folds, which need to go from one set of muscles (low range – thyroartytenoid muscles) to another set (high range‐ cricothyroid muscles).

Having a good transition between the two will help with flexibility. Hums are great to cool down. Feel the buzz!

Slow down.

Pace yourself. Take your time speaking. Make sure to articulate your point.

You want your point to be heard and for it to register with your audience.

Hydrate!

Drink lots of water and eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Many of us are drinking much more coffee and wine than we normally do, since it is so easily accessible in the comfort of our own homes.

How do you know if you're properly hydrated? Your mouth and throat will feel smooth and moist instead of like sandpaper and cotton. And the most objective test of adequate hydration ‐ your urine will be clear.

Using earphones or earbuds.

If you're using earphones/earbuds, keep one in and the other out. This can help with volume control/awareness.

Check in with your inner voice, too.

Mindfulness and meditation are important during this stressful time.

Now more than ever, telecommunication has become an integral part of our lives. We celebrate World Voice Day April 16 and empower you to take care of one of your most valuable instrument and tool — your voice.

If you have vocal symptoms that persist for several weeks, further investigation may be needed by a laryngologist or speech‐language pathologist.