[tedyoung]

Agreed. This is what I always recommend to those who are looking to learn how to (better) code: find a personal, meaningful project that fills a want or need for you. Not only will it provide you with realistic problems to solve, they will be personally meaningful, helping you stay motivated.

The OP issues may also be related to procrastination, where having accountability to others may be one (among many) solution, e.g., having a pair-programming partner (or a mob), or, what has worked for me, programming live on Twitch.