What do you listen to while you work?

At the office, because of the nature of my work, I can’t really listen to music. There are just too many tasks that require real-time communication and constant attention—I need to keep my ears open, not drift off into my own world.

But at home, when I’m on my computer getting things done, that’s when I get to play music in the background. That’s when I feel a little more like myself, free to set the tone.

Sometimes I go for calming music—piano, ambient sounds, things that help me steady my thoughts. Other times, I get nostalgic and put on Japanese pop songs from 20 or 30 years ago. Certain melodies pull me right back in time, reminding me of old TV shows, cassette tapes, and the smell of rented comic books.

Of course, I know I can’t live in the past forever. Every now and then, I’ll open YouTube and listen to whatever’s trending in Mandarin, English, or Japanese—just to make sure I’m not drifting too far from the current era.

Driving is a different story. On long trips, I usually stick to mainstream pop or soft white noise to keep my mind awake but calm. But every so often—especially on a clear day with little traffic—I’ll sneak in a few high-energy tracks from Initial D. The Eurobeat kicks in, and suddenly every curve feels like a movie scene (though yes, I still use my turn signal like a responsible adult).

I may not remember the title of every song I hear, but these sounds—old and new—create little pockets of space in my life where I can breathe.