How Music Makes an Afternoon Drive and Commute Better

A blog about the psychology behind music and how it can make you feel.

Music can dramatically change one’s mood and even affect our behavior. It is a powerful thing that with the right sound and lyrics it can evoke feelings and emotions in others. Having nice music playing in the background can release pleasure chemicals in our brains and change the way we’re thinking about things. If this is true, then why do we enjoy long drives more with music?

Research has shown that music can change the way you think. It is not just something that distracts you, making your commute feel shorter. Rather, the type of music you listen to is linked to how you are feeling.

The difference between a good commute and an ordinary one can be found in the way you listen to music. Commuting through music is an easy way to alter the atmosphere in your car. When you’re stuck in traffic, music gives you a release – the kind that makes you get out of your seat and take part in the conversation around you. Commuting in this way isn’t only pleasant but helps reduce stress – just think of the positive feelings it can create inside you when you get out of your cubicle and into an open area where people are talking and having a good time.

Some people like the stimulation of traffic even when they can’t see onto the highway. The sounds we listen to gives us a way to reflect on our day and connect with others – something we can’t do while sitting in traffic. Commuting by music takes on a new life when you get out of the car and into the fresh air, see the sights and hear the sounds of summer vacations in other cities. Some cities even have designated areas where residents can set up their portable playlists so they can fill up their days with relaxing music.

With the flip of a switch, music can both boost and de-boost your mood. What happens when the mood is lifted? You enjoy yourself more, more energy, more creativity. Your interactions with others also improve because you’re smiling more and people are more willing to help others. It can help set the tone of your day while you’re on the way to work or school early in the morning. When you’re on the way home, your choice of music can make you feel a myriad number of emotions – nostalgia, bliss, sadness, and more. It can also take you back to a certain memory that you’d like to rewind or be in. Whatever it brings, it’s amazing how music has the ability to change our moods in just a matter of time.