How To Stop Speaking Too Loudly

If, when you talk, you hear your voice at a significantly louder volume when compared to others this could be an indicator that you are too loud.

Now, being able to project your speech so that people hear you clearly and make out what you say is fine. Don’t make efforts to shift from having a loud voice to having a soft whisper. Speaking at a clear volume is a sign of confidence but it’s important not to go overboard.

Ways to stop speaking too loud

If you find that you struggle with speaking too loudly then here are some ways to help you quiet your voice and be less loud.

1. Judge how loud you really are

First, it is important to assess if your voice is indeed too loud or if you are simply perceiving it as such. First of all your ears are close to your mouth. But second of all, you may simply have sensitive hearing or be overly sensitive to your voice specifically.

Making sure you do indeed have a loud voice before jumping into resolving this is important. If your voice is not truly that loud then working on lowering it may simply make it hard to hear you or make you appear unconfident or timid.

Consider asking someone if you’re being too loud even in a conversation. Keep in mind, though, that some people may lie to simply not be rude. You can also try recording yourself (not other people) in private while you speak at the volume you usually do. Play that recording back and determine if you are being too loud.

2. Pay attention to your own volume

If you do determine your voice is loud then start the process of noticing when it is and how loud it is. If you notice certain situations when you tend to be loud or if you are simply loud all the time, make mental notes of that. If you catch yourself being too loud lower your voice.

Also make an effort to be aware of how loud you are. Maybe you are being very loud or moderately loud. Perhaps you speak just slightly above the average volume of others in the room. Awareness of your volume can help you determine when exactly to lower your voice and by how much. I.e. if you are very loud you should go way down but if you are only slightly louder than others around you then only a moderate decrease should be fine.

3. Simply start lowering your voice

The obvious solution may be the best one here. One of the best ways to control your vocal volume is to simply lower it. By how much depends on what your research yields per #2. But ultimately simply lowering your voice works for most people. It’s really not super hard to not be too loud.

4. Determine if there is a reason

Be careful of why you might be speaking loudly. For example, if you have earphones in your ears you may be compensating for the fact that you simply perceive yourself speaking at a lower volume. Maybe you have trouble with hearing and again you are raising your voice because you struggle to detect your own volume. In this case, go to a physician who can help you with this.

5. Practice speaking at a lower volume

Sometimes practice makes perfect. If you struggle to lower your voice or to keep it low you may just need some practice. Start to practice speaking at a lower volume. Consider doing this in front of a mirror, as well. Start off by whispering and then gradually increase your volume until you reach an ideal one. You can even try practicing with a trusted family member or friend who can also give you feedback. Try having them stand at different distances and speaking to them.

6. Ask someone to notify you when your voice is getting too loud

Maybe you’re at a social gathering, for example, and you want to know when your voice is loud. If you’re with someone you trust, tell them to advise you if/when your voice is too loud. Maybe they can give a subtle signal or say something to you.

7. Careful not to go too low

Your goal should be lowering your voice if it is too loud, not making your voice low. If your voice is too loud this can be problematic in its own way. However, if your voice is too quiet this can be a separate problem. This might make it harder to hear you, harder to clearly make out what you’re saying or it may even make you boring to be around.

Speaking at a lower volume can also indicate a lack of confidence and may make you look shy or ashamed. Lower your voice if you need to but don’t make your voice low. Moderation is important here. Speaking with a little volume in your voice can exude confidence – so find the perfect level for you.

8. Speak calmly

A lot of times the reason for loud voices is emotional passion. Anger, for example, can cause a loud voice; hence why people tend to be louder in arguments. It is important to control your emotions, yes, but it is also important to speak with just the right amount of it.

Don’t go monotone but don’t be overly impassioned when you talk about the smallest things. In general, even in tense times it is a good idea to speak calmly. Try to practice doing this, as well. Consider practicing in front of a mirror. Learn to speak calmly no matter what emotion you feel.