It's getting cold here in the northern hemisphere, and it reminds me to briefly mention that since our bodies are our instruments, staying healthy is a key concern. As I am fond of doing, however, I'd like to approach this from another angle.
Yes, getting a cold is a nuisance, and recovering from it is a prime concern for a vocalist, but I'd like to suggest to you that your daily vocalization practice is your chief defense and route to recovery.
Having a daily practice means that your voice will be in the best shape that it can be should you fall ill. While you are sick, carefully judge whether or not maintaining your daily practice is appropriate. As a general rule of thumb, if you cannot effectively transition to cricothyroid dominant singing, taking some vocal rest is appropriate. In other words, don't sing.
I find that that standard serves me well as I get back into my practice, and I've also been using the Pomodoro method recently, to limit distractions.
For those not familiar, the Pomodoro method is a way to focus your attention using a timer. At the end of the focus period, you get a little break to reset, and either continue or move on. That is a bit of an oversimplification, but just going on that you can get started.
The beauty here is that once you set the timer, all the vagaries of how long you'll practice for and any concerns about what you have to do afterwards can be set aside. You know how long you're going to vocalize for (in my case) and anything else that is on my agenda for the day has been allotted for. I can relax and truly focus on my practice without concern.
Many of us lead super busy lives, and balance singing with several obligations. It's all too easy to 'do my vocalizations later' and find that later is several days away. The Pomodoro method calls for 25 minute blocks, but you can just as readily do 10 or 15. The point is to do what works best for you, so that you have a daily practice.
Thanks for reading, and have a wonderful day!
