Stress has a way of creeping into our lives quietly. At first, it’s just a busy day or a sleepless night. Then it becomes a constant tightness in the chest, a mind that won’t switch off, a feeling of being overwhelmed by even the smallest tasks. If stress has been showing up more often than you would like, you’re far from alone.
Many people I work with in Aberdeen describe stress not as a sudden event, but as a gradual build-up. It’s what happens when responsibilities pile up, when emotions go unspoken, or when the inner critic insists you should “handle everything” without rest.
The good news? Stress can be managed — not by pushing harder, but by learning tools that support your body, mind, and emotions. Below are six practical strategies that genuinely work in everyday life.
1. Slow Down Your Breathing to Reset Your System
When you’re stressed, your breath becomes shallow. Your body moves into alert mode, and everything feels urgent.
One of the quickest ways to reduce stress is to interrupt this response.
A simple technique:
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Inhale slowly through your nose for 4 seconds
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Hold briefly
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Exhale through your mouth for 6 seconds
This signals the nervous system to calm down. It’s not just “relaxation” — it’s biology.
Try it for two minutes and notice how the nervous system begins to shift.
2. Name What You’re Feeling
Stress becomes heavier when emotions stay vague. Naming what you feel — overwhelmed, anxious, exhausted, frustrated — reduces emotional pressure.
Putting words to emotions is a powerful form of self-support. Instead of “I’m stressed,” you start saying things like:
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“I’m worried about this deadline.”
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“I’m feeling overloaded.”
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“I’m afraid of disappointing someone.”
Life coaching often involves helping clients build this emotional awareness. Once you understand what you’re feeling, you can respond to yourself more compassionately.
3. Challenge Your Inner Critic
The inner critic is loudest when you’re stressed.
It says things like:
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“You’re not doing enough.”
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“You should cope better.”
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“Everyone else can handle this.”
This voice doesn’t reduce stress — it multiplies it.
A helpful practice is to pause and ask:
“Is this voice helping me — or hurting me?”
If it’s hurting, it’s not truth; it’s fear. Learning to soften the inner critic is one of the most transformative parts of life coaching.
4. Break Tasks Into Smaller Steps
Stress thrives on overwhelm. When everything feels like “too much,” your mind goes into shutdown or panic mode.
Breaking tasks down creates mental space. Instead of:
“I have so much to do.”
you shift to:
“Today I will do these two things.”
This builds clarity and reduces pressure. Small steps create momentum, and momentum reduces stress.
5. Create Micro-Moments of Rest
Many people imagine rest as a holiday or a long break — something that happens “later.”
But your nervous system needs support every day.
Micro-moments might include:
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Sitting quietly for one minute.
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A short walk around the block.
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Drinking a cup of tea slowly.
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Stretching your shoulders and neck.
These small pauses help regulate your nervous system and prevent stress from accumulating.
6. Connect With Someone You Trust
Stress becomes heavier when held alone.
Connection — even a brief conversation — is grounding.
Talking to someone you trust:
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Relieves emotional pressure
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Helps you gain perspective
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Reminds you that you’re not carrying everything alone
Many clients say that the simple act of being heard reduces their stress more than anything else.
Why These Tools Work
These strategies don’t require dramatic lifestyle changes. They work because they support the parts of you most affected by stress:
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Your nervous system
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Your emotions
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Your beliefs
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Your sense of control
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Your connection with yourself and others
When these areas are supported, stress becomes manageable rather than overwhelming.
When Stress Is a Sign You Need Support
Sometimes stress is more than a busy week — it’s a sign that something in your life needs attention or change.
Life coaching can help you understand:
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Why stress keeps returning
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What patterns are draining your energy
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How emotions impact your stress response
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What beliefs (including your inner critic) fuel pressure
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What changes would genuinely support your wellbeing
With support, stress becomes not just something to cope with, but something you can learn from.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to eliminate stress completely — you simply need tools that help you navigate it with more ease and self-compassion. These six strategies are small, practical, and powerful when used consistently.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed and would like help understanding your stress, your emotions, or the deeper patterns beneath them, feel free to reach out through the contact form. Sometimes one conversation is enough to begin changing how you experience your everyday life.