Ask Thor

Dewitt Later - I’m not gonna lie, Thor. I have an awful habit of procrastinating and putting off everything - schoolwork, chores, you name it - and I know it might harm me in the long run, but I don’t know how to stop. Got any tips? They would be greatly appreciated.

Thor - Dewitt, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to prioritize having fun over tasks that might affect my future. Work is often dull, but if you have the right mindset, it doesn’t have to be that way all the time! Here’s my advice on how to make pretty much any boring task worthwhile: set a goal relative to your deadline. Say to yourself, “If I [make a certain amount of progress] by [time or date], I will reward myself with [activity].” Establishing your motivation is key to finding the strength in you to finally get something done! I’m going to be perfectly honest - I wasn’t a straight “A” student myself in Norse School, but I consistently got everything done on time by brewing some fresh tea after each night’s work was complete. While that might not be your cup of tea (heh heh), consider these as rewards: riding a bike, playing board/card/video games, exercising, reading, or watching TV. Anything that makes you happy (within reason, of course) will seem much more enjoyable without that big project, assignment, or chore hanging over your head, and that’s why this simple method is so effective. Thanks for reaching out, Mr. Later!

D. River - Thor, I’m turning 16 in a few months and I’m nervous about having to drive to school or work. Some roads around here are more prone to accidents than others, and once I get my first car, I might not be able to handle being in traffic. Help!

Thor - Mr. River, I might not be able to completely get rid of your worries about owning a car. It’s always a good idea to be alert while driving in case somebody doesn’t follow the rules of the road. However, I do have some tips which could make your experience a little bit easier:

• Anticipate that you will encounter other cars every time you drive. You might not see cars in front of you, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there. Use your rearview and side mirrors often.

• Take breaks when you need to. Driving with traffic is a mentally and physically draining task sometimes, and you might not even know you’re tired when on the road! It is recommended to stop for 15 minutes MINIMUM for every 3 hours of driving.

  • If someone else with a license is in the vehicle with you, stop and switch drivers every 3 hours if you want to avoid losing time. If you are tired (or have an emergency) and there are no rest stops around, pull over slowly on the side opposite the median of the road.

• Prioritize safety, not convenience. When operating any sort of vehicle, check to make sure everybody in it is wearing a seatbelt. Never text, eat, or do anything else that requires you to divert your attention while driving. Keeping your eyes on the road, other cars, signs and traffic lights is more important because any mix-up could cause severe harm to you or others.

  • This also applies when you are on the “sending” end of texts; if you know that the person you are contacting could be driving at the moment, try a phone call instead. If your message to a person who is currently driving isn’t a serious emergency, consider whether to contact them at all.

Driving isn’t an exact science, Mr. River, but if you act with care for vehicles, passengers, and pedestrians around you (and equally importantly, yourself), you should be just fine in the long run. 

L. Prechaun - Hey, Thor. I found a five-leaf clover.

Thor - Well, good luck with that!