The Summer Commute Bucket List: 10 Things to Try Before Labor Day
Summer has a funny way of disappearing when you're not looking.
One minute you're making beach plans, talking about backyard cookouts, and acting like you’re going to “make the most of the evenings outside this year.” The next thing you know, it’s September and pumpkin spice is back.
For most of us, summer still comes with alarms, deadlines, and the same commute on repeat. But it doesn’t actually have to feel like the same loop every day.
This isn’t about reinventing your entire life or becoming a “morning routine” person. It’s just a summer bucket list for your weekdays. Small things. Fun things. Slightly chaotic things. Things that make Tuesday feel less like Tuesday.
Think of it as: “what if my commute didn’t completely drain my soul this summer?”
1. Catch a Sunset After Work
Not everything needs to be optimized or paired with productivity.
Pick one evening, get out of work, and just go look at the sky on purpose. Beach, waterfront, parking lot with a decent view – honestly, whatever works.
No multitasking. No “I’ll just answer this one email.” Just you and the fact that the day is actually over.
It counts as a win.
Source: unsplash.com/Anton Darius
2. Carpool with a Coworker Once
Yes, this one feels slightly like a personality test, but in a good way.
Try carpooling in Hampton Roads at least once this summer. Split the gas, split the parking stress, split the “why is traffic like this” commentary.
Also, the commute becomes shorter when you’re not mentally alone with it.
3. Do Something Completely Pointless (On Purpose)
This is your official permission slip to waste a day beautifully.
Go somewhere with no plan. Eat something at an inconvenient time. Wander a bookstore like you’re in a movie montage. Drive to the beach and refuse to check the clock.
No optimizing. No “while I’m out I might as well.” Just existing in a directionless way for a minute.
It’s underrated.
Source: unsplash.com/Clay Banks
4. Enter a Rewards Raffle
Here’s your “might as well” moment – but make it fun.
When you log eligible trips through ConnectingVA, you earn points you can throw into raffles for gift cards in different amounts. It’s low effort, slightly exciting, and occasionally turns commuting into something other than just… commuting.
And honestly? Someone’s going to win. Might as well be you.
5. Find a Podcast That Hijacks Your Brain
Your current playlist has probably been emotionally exhausted for months.
This summer, replace it with literally anything else. Comedy, chaos, deep dives, random internet drama explained at length – whatever keeps you from mentally replaying your inbox during rush hour.
If traffic is unavoidable, at least your thoughts don’t have to be.
Not into podcasts? Here’s a shameless plug for goCommute’s latest playlist – you can thank us later.
6. Have a “No Drive” Day
One day. That’s it.
Leave your car at home and try something different – transit, biking, walking part of the trip, or a rideshare setup with a coworker.
Hampton Roads actually gives you options here, with services like Hampton Roads Transit, Williamsburg Area Transit Authority, and Suffolk Transit making it easier than people expect to test out a different rhythm for the day.
Source: unsplash.com/Chris Barbalis
7. Eat Lunch Somewhere That Isn’t Your Desk Prison
Your desk does not need more of your life.
Take your lunch outside. Sit near water. Find shade. Sit in your car if that’s your only escape option. Literally anything that isn’t fluorescent lighting and emails staring back at you.
This is a tiny rebellion and it absolutely counts.
8. Try One Thing That Makes Your Commute Less Predictable
Do something different with how you get around.
Bike to lunch. Hop on the ferry. Walk to get lunch. Carpool with someone new. Mix it up in a way that interrupts the autopilot setting.
There are more commuter options out there than most people ever test.
You don’t have to overhaul your routine – just poke it a little and see what changes.
Before Summer Fully Ghosts Us…
Summer doesn’t actually require big vacations or perfectly curated weekends to matter.
Sometimes it’s just small interruptions to the routine. A sunset instead of another scroll. A different ride home. A lunch outside. A podcast that doesn’t make you think about work. A sustainable commute that feels slightly less like a personal attack.
Even one or two of these changes can make the season feel different.
So before Labor Day shows up like it owns the place – try a few things. See what sticks.
Worst case, you still end up in traffic, but you’re slightly less annoyed about it.