Not saying anything about good or bad, but trunk-based development doesn't work when the business requires you to have multiple releases under development concurrently.
I think the difference is that as a kid music is forced on you from all kinds of sources: parents, friends, radio, etc. So you don't realize how much time you actually spent just listening to new music.
As an Old, you probably don't have nearly as much random exposure, i.e. you control when you listen to music now. Which means the answer to your question is that you have to consciously set aside time simply to listen to music. It may feel like a "waste of time" for each track you think is shit, but that's just part of the process.
Owning an animal is a commitment which often requires money: food, toys, vet bills, etc. If you're worried about yourself surviving, getting a cat will only make things worse. Which is bad for you, but equally bad for the cat.
All is not lost however. You should volunteer at your local shelter. They literally need people to just sit and pet cats. It would also give you an opportunity to learn their body language so you understand them better.
If the job market around you sucks then you may have to just practice until you get good enough.
However that does not mean online code tests are accurate or properly reflect your skills and ability to do actual job work. They're a tool used by companies that don't respect the candidate's time and you should see that as a mini red flag.
I think the problem is that it should be standard, but the LinkedIn poster is talking about it like her company is SO generous.