Stress is all too familiar for students, but learning to manage it is critical.Roger Miller, assistant director for clinical services, said students need to recognize and deal with stress properly.Chronic illnesses such as asthma can worsen if stress is not dealt with properly, he said.Regular physical activity and meditation are the most common and effective methods of reducing stress, he said.Maintaining a proper diet and getting enough sleep will also help to reduce stress, said Charles Klink, associate director of Counseling and Consultation Services.Students can manage end-of-the-quarter stress by following some general guidelines, he said.Organizing and planning time efficiently and relaxing daily can help to reduce feelings of stress and external pressure, he said.Despite the negative consequences of stress, some forms of stress, such as eustress, are necessary and even beneficial, he said.”Eustress helps you feel organized and more alert,” he said. “Distress can be debilitating and unhealthy.”Eustress is often felt before an exam even though a student has prepared for it and helps increase alertness, he said.When students don’t study for exams, they experience distress, he said.Students who can’t deal with stress properly and in a healthy manner should consider counseling, he said.But talking with friends, relatives and other students is a good way to work through problems, he said.It is important to save time for relationships especially during finals week, so students don’t feel a sense of isolation, he said.”We live in a very stressful culture,” he said. “People can get pretty hard on themselves.”