The core mistake is studying “when I feel like it.” What works is schedule: 45–60 minutes in a fixed slot, five days a week.
Progress model: 70% practice, 20% reading, 10% reflection. Without practice, knowledge fades quickly.
Build a 4-week track: weekly topic, one mini-project, one public artifact (note, demo, gist). That makes progress visible.
After a workday, do not start with the hardest part. Begin with a 15-minute warm-up, then move to the main block.
Anti-pattern: taking 5 courses in parallel. Better one direction, one clear “topic complete” criterion.
Simple KPI: 20 learning sessions per month + 4 practical artifacts.