Are you able to put worries away until they happen?

[Fluellablue]

And if so, how, please?

I'm not sure if my question makes sense, but I'm always being told to "cross that bridge when I come to it" or "wait and see what happens first' or words to that effect, but I don't seem to have that skill.

At the minute, I'm very worried about a negative change that may be happening at work, and I won't find out for several weeks. I keep planning what I can do etc, when in reality I can't really do anything, especially in advance.

Are some other people really able to put things to the back of their mind like this, and if so, is there a trick to it, please?

No

I worry, fret, catastrophise about a lot of things.
Both my DC’s school bubbles have burst this week. My anxiety is ramped up. I am not expecting much sleep any time soon.

I am like you and I find it more bearable if I work through all possible outcomes, starting with the worst and work what I will do/what will happen in each scenario. I think it depends on your personality though; thinking about worst case scenario would likely make some (most?) people feel even more anxious but I feel like if I stop trying to fight it or pretend the worst-case is impossible it makes me feel far worse.

I certainly can’t. I end up worrying myself sick and it’s horrible.

I try to channel Mark Rylance in "Bridge of Spies". When Tom Hanks expresses surprise that he isn't frantic about the risk that he could face execution if found guilty he calmly replies "Would it help?" I always try to remind myself of that if I find myself stressing about something that I can't change or might not even happen. Put those thoughts away until you need to deal with the situation.

Be more Mark