I keep telling myself I will refactor....but I rarely feel like it because I would rather work on a new exciting project. In the end, I still learn a lot, and I usually will refactor when a bug is discovered.
I'm currently working on a part of the site where it should be refactored, but I chose not to because I just want to get the functionality to work. Once its good, I'll find the similarities and then refactor.
I'm also an artist, musician, and an athlete. I see similarities with those things and coding. In order to improve, you have to go through the "fog". That is, go with a concept , get messy, and see it through.
In the "fog" I tend to second guess myself and feel I'll never get out of it. But in the end things tend to work itself out and I'm better for it. After 10 pictures drawing the same thing, the 11th one is almost always better. Same with coding. I find myself looking 3-4 steps ahead and eventually write better code because of it. All just from working on and seeing through projects.