Stressed out? That might not be such a bad thing...

There's a pervasive myth out there that stress is bad. And while chronic stress can definitely have a negative impact on your life, short bursts of acute stress can actually be beneficial. What counts is your ability to recognize the causes of stress and learn how to manage them. Here are a few of the basics from stress-management expert and CCE workshop trainer Kathryn Peterson.

• NUTS: it's an acronym for an internationally recognized method of categorizing four main types of triggers for stress. Find out what they are and how you can better manage them.
• Chronic vs. Acute stress. There are all kinds of things in life that cause stress. Some of them are easier to deal with than others. Learn the difference between these two main types of stress and how they affect you.
• Finding balance. Your body reacts to stress in specific ways. Sometimes, short-lived stress might actually be a good thing. But what happens when the stress is chronic? Don't wait till it's too late. Start learning from experts like Kathryn Peterson today.