Using Music Therapy for a Relaxing Commute

After earning the extraordinary employee excellence award during his time at WeWork, data analyst Brian Richmond became the first senior data scientist at the wellness startup Aura Health. As a member of the product intelligence team, Brian Richmond built an innovative machine learning engine that gives personalized recommendations based on peoples’ tastes. Alongside meditations, life coaching, and nature sounds, the Aura app streams multiple music therapy stations.

The tones, vibrations, and tempo of a musical piece can change a listener’s mood and also impact his or her physiological state. Listening to an appropriate playlist can counteract the stress and anxiety often associated with long commutes. Commutes lasting more than an hour have been linked to increased blood pressure and less satisfaction with life.

Not only can listening to music while commuting decrease negative emotions, but it can also mitigate pain and lower blood pressure. Slow-paced classical pieces can be ideal for reducing stress resulting from a long commute on public transit. Uptempo sing-a-longs, which enhance focus, and life coaching sessions are ideal for drivers during a commute to begin the workday with positivity and focus, and to disconnect from work when commuting home.