I am a self taught (still a novice) with a background in development. I have difficulty in motivating myself to practice using resources like this. Perhaps due to its fake nature and lack of feedback loop.

The article touches on something that resonates with me, that is you may find yourself learning more (practical skills) on the job. So I wonder if there is a way to learn faster without having to switch careers, such as being a part-time designer at startups, practicing under a mentor, or indie-hacking a product. Does anyone have any advice on this?