Everything Feels Like It’s on Fire. Here’s How to Make Your Commute Less Miserable.

It's August. 

The air feels like soup. Your fingertips may have first degree burns from your steering wheel. You didn’t even open the weather app because you just KNOW you’re basically on the sun right now.  

Source: unsplash.com/ Bianca Castillo

Meanwhile, life keeps happening. 

You still have meetings. Kids still have camp. Groceries still need to be bought. The commute didn't disappear just because it feels like this month (this summer? This year. THIS DECADE) is a little... a lot. 

If you're commuting in Hampton Roads, you're probably juggling heat, traffic, construction, bridge backups, rising costs, and that strange feeling that everyone on the interstate woke up five minutes late. 

We can't fix all of that. 

But we can make the trip a little less miserable. 

Accept That August Is Not the Month to Be a Hero

If you're running late, resist the urge to sprint from the parking lot to the office like you're qualifying for the Olympics. 

You'll still be late. You'll just be late and sweating through your shirt. 

Slow down. Drink some water. Park in the shade when you can. Throw up a windshield sunshade. If your car has been baking all afternoon, crack the doors for a minute before climbing inside unless you're particularly interested in recreating a convection oven. 

Summer is hard enough. Your commute doesn't have to be. 

If You Can Skip a Drive, Skip the Drive

Not every trip has to be a drive-alone trip. 

If your employer offers telework, even occasionally, one day at home can mean one less afternoon sitting in traffic while your dashboard insists it's 107 degrees. 

If telework isn't an option, consider whether one or two trips each week could look different. 

Carpool with a coworker. 

Ride transit. 

Bike a short distance if your commute allows and you're prepared for the heat.  

The goal isn't to completely change your routine overnight. It's simply to ask whether every trip has to happen the exact same way. 

Sometimes the best commuter solutions are the ones that reduce stress before you even leave the driveway. 

Source: unsplash.com/Marianna Lutkova

Employers Can Help More Than They Think

Supporting Hampton Roads commuters doesn't always require a major budget or a brand-new employee benefit. 

Sometimes it's as simple as being flexible. 

Allowing staggered start times can help employees avoid the worst traffic, while encouraging telework when possible can eliminate unnecessary trips altogether. 

Even something as simple as reminding employees about the commuter resources already available to them can make a real difference. (Need someone to do that for you? Hi. It’s us.)

Transportation is one of those things people rarely think about until it's suddenly the biggest source of stress in their day. Helping employees discover better commuting options before they need them is one of the simplest ways to support your workforce. 

Your Car Is Also Having a Rough Summer

Heat is hard on people. 

It's also hard on cars. 

Check your tire pressure. Hot pavement and underinflated tires are not friends. 

Keep an eye on coolant levels. 

Make sure your battery isn't nearing the end of its life before it decides to announce that in the middle of an August afternoon. 

And maybe don't wait until your gas light has been on for two days before deciding today's the day to find a station. 

Future You will appreciate the effort. 

The Cheapest Commute Is Usually the One You Don't Take Alone

Gas prices have a habit of climbing when everyone is traveling, and summer has never exactly been known for bargain fuel. 

Sharing rides means sharing costs. 

Carpooling can cut fuel expenses, reduce wear and tear on your vehicle, and give you someone to complain about traffic with instead of yelling at the windshield. 

Honestly, that's not nothing. 

Through goCommute services, commuters can explore ridematching, learn about local transportation options, and find practical ways to make commuting around Hampton Roads a little easier without completely reinventing their schedules. 

Sometimes the easiest change is simply finding someone who's already headed the same direction. 

Have a Backup Plan

Nobody expects their day to go sideways… until it does.  

A vehicle issue. 

A family emergency. 

A last-minute call from school. 

Life doesn't ask whether it's convenient. One of the biggest barriers people face when trying transit, carpooling, or vanpooling is worrying about what happens if something unexpected comes up. 

That's exactly why programs like ConnectingVA’s Ride Home Rewards exist. 

Knowing you have a backup plan makes trying a different commute feel a lot less risky. 

Sometimes peace of mind is the thing that finally gets someone to try something new. 

Source: unsplash.com/ Alejandro Piñero Amerio

If You're Riding a Bike, Respect the Heat

Cycling during the summer can still be a great option, but August is not the month to pretend you're invincible. 

• Ride earlier if possible. 

• Hydrate before you're thirsty. 

• Wear bright, breathable clothing. 

• Know your route, and don't ignore the signs of heat exhaustion just because you're determined to finish the ride. 

There's a difference between building endurance and making questionable life choices. Your future self is thanking you again.  

Small Wins Count

Maybe you telework once this week (but let’s be so for real, twice should be the minimum).  

Maybe you carpool on Fridays. Maybe you finally try transit to that meeting downtown instead of circling for parking. Maybe you simply discover that your commute doesn't have to feel exactly the same every day. 

Those aren't dramatic lifestyle changes. They're small adjustments that add up over time. 

Less fuel, less stress, and less time spent wondering why traffic has come to a complete stop even though there doesn't appear to be anything causing it. 

(It's the zipper merge. It's always the zipper merge. Or, more accurately, the people who still haven't figured out how to zipper merge.)

Nobody Really Outgrows August

Somehow, it still feels the way it did when you were a kid. Summer isn't quite over, but you can tell it's winding down. School supplies are back on the shelves. Calendars start filling up again. Everyone's trying to squeeze in one last trip before routines take over. 

We can't slow the calendar down. We can't make August any cooler. And we definitely can't promise an empty interstate. 

But if we can help make your commute a little less stressful along the way, that's a pretty good place to start.