During job interviews, a question I used to often be asked was “how do you learn something?” (Phrased assorted different ways.) My answer was always pretty similar: don’t go into the learning process with the thought “I want to know x language” (or whatever).

Instead, have a goal to pursue. Don’t start thinking “I want to learn Linux,” start thinking “I want to use this operating system to make a server that can securely share media with my family.” Don’t think “I want to know Python,” come into it thinking “I want to make a chatbot.” (I don’t do much real programming, so I’m sorry if that’s a bad example.) Try to make it ambitious, but achievable. Originality and good execution are not even remotely requirements in this context. You just need a “why.” No one else will ever see what you do unless you want them to.

At least in my experience and that of those I’ve trained, if you just have an abstract target, you’re eventually not going to know where to go next and will run out of motivation. With a specific aim, even if you don’t comprehend the whole (yet!) you’ll often have a good idea of what the next step is and, whenever you achieve it, you’ll feel much more satisfaction by having gained progress on something you wanted than you would by completing an exercise in a book. As such, whatever lesson or lessons you may have learned will likely be easier to recall the next time you need them.