Develop a schedule for your learning activities and stick to it. Block out the needed time from your day and reassess every part of your weekly schedule. Write everything out in calendar form and make sure that you stick to the plan. Move things around if necessary, but be warned that the more changes you make, the more likely you are to lose track of your time and get into trouble.
Determine your short and medium-term goals and work towards those. If you want to pass enough classes to obtain a special license, figure out how many classes you'll need to take and give yourself a reasonable amount of time to accomplish the task. Spreading tasks out in an even and rational way will make completing the overall work much easier.
One of the challenges of adult learning is being accountable for the goals you've set. Finding a partner who is going through the same struggles and can encourage you to stick with your plan is vital to your learning success. Sharing your goals and plans with someone else not only gives you a sounding board, it provides you with someone who can remind you of what you want to accomplish.
Keep track of your accomplishments and find ways to reward yourself, even for smaller goals. Maybe it's a special food treat or a movie night, but these small rewards offer the positive reinforcement that helps you work your way towards your ultimate goal.
Particularly with goals that span several years, it is important to regularly reexamine the goals and make sure they fit in with your current schedule and lifestyle. In the beginning, students tend to be too optimistic about what they can accomplish and that optimism can lead to a feeling of failure as unrealistic goals are not met.