I avoided any possible disasters plugging the new PC into the TV by thinking of the worst possible outcome and having this conversation in my head:

"Man, that bottom dust cover is so slippery. I can't believe I dropped the new PC because it slipped off in my hand."

"Then why didn't you take the dust cover off, put it down, then put the dust cover back on?"

"Oh, I didn't think of that."

And that's how I DID think of that and avoid any disasters. Is there a word for this type of mental technique or is it just common sense?