A young woman wrote: "I live in Taoyuan and work in Taipei. I have to spend three hours every day commuting by car. Even though I have a seat, the vehicle is noisy and shakes violently, so I can't listen to music or read books during the ride. I don't want to move house, change jobs, or drive myself. I always get a full night's sleep the night before, so I don't need to catch up on sleep during the commute. How can I save these three daily hours?"
Her question seemed almost like a challenge to me. This is how I responded:
In time management, we must distinguish between what is within our control and what is not. The noise and shaking of the vehicle are beyond our control. What we can control includes changing jobs, moving house, or driving ourselves. It's understandable if you don't want to move because you wish to live with your family. It's also acceptable if you love your current job too much to leave it. However, if you're unwilling to change jobs, move, or drive yourself, and can't listen to audio recordings on the commute, the only remaining option you might adjust is to sleep one or two hours less the night before, using that extra time to read, prepare work, or exercise—then use your commute time the next day to catch up on sleep.
But this young woman sleeps soundly at home every night and then just spaces out during her commute. What other good suggestions could anyone possibly offer?
There's a saying in Christianity: "When God closes a door, He opens a window elsewhere." When someone blocks your path, most people will look for alternative routes. Yet this woman keeps blocking every possible solution herself, leaving others powerless to help.
The movie Jurassic Park has a line: "Life finds a way." I believe this quote applies not only to dinosaurs but even more aptly to human beings. We should seek outlets for our lives, rather than excuses for our failures.