Having anxiety is never fun. It can make you feel out of control, cause you to increase your stress levels and generally become less effective, and make your life difficult to live. Here are some tips for managing your anxiety so that you can build a life worth living.

1. Set a Worrying Time Limit

One thing that you can do to control your anxiety is to set a timer on your phone for 15 to 20 minutes. During this time, allow all of your worries and fears to wash over you. Worry about everything from whether or not you had food in your teeth during the meeting to how you will feel when your new puppy gets old and dies in eleven to twelve years. Don't judge any of your worries. Just feel them. Say your worries out loud or write them down.

When the timer rings, commit to not worry anymore. There's nothing that you can do about the future and the past. Forcing yourself to stop worrying all the time is nearly impossible. Allowing yourself to worry for a short period of time and then avoid worrying in the future is a good way to get your anxiety out without it taking over your entire day. Close your notebook and immediately go do something else.

2. Exercise

Another way to manage your anxiety is to exercise regularly. Whenever you feel anxious, put in some music and allow yourself to take the time that you need to get your heart pumping and body sweating. This will produce endorphins that will make you more resistant to anxious thoughts and take your mind off of whatever is bothering you at that particular moment. Both give you some clarity and allow you to move away from the problem.

3. Watch Your Life Like It's a Movie

Finally, try to observe what's going on in your life as though your life is a movie and you are merely watching it. Analyze every detail from this vantage point. This will allow you to think more clearly and make better decisions to solve your problems because you will not be gripped with emotion. This will also help you stay in the moment and not worry about the future or the past. When you watch a movie, you only see what is happening on the screen at the time.

For more information, talk to a counselor that specializes in anxiety and depression management.