Staying on track with my studies is a balancing act. It takes time and commitment, and a good plan. When I get a new course, the first thing I do is put together a study schedule. This is a basic, loose schedule that is dated that I can refer to from time to time...but it is not concrete. (I write those dates in pencil for a reason )
Life happens, and through years of attending school and finding what doesn't work for me (and boy have I...lol), I have learned to give myself some leeway.
The largest part of staying on track for me is simply doing nothing sometimes. The break lets my mind focus on other things so I don't get too bogged down (read-anxious, obsessive-compulsive, self-doubting, etc.) or bored with my studies. I try to accomplish as much work as I can in 3-day stints, then take a break for a day, to recharge, rewind (reviewing all those wonderful new topics in my head), and relax before I jump back in.
Also, lots of visuals...think dry eraser boards, tack-boards, posters, stickers, bright colored pens/notebooks, etc. I write down my schedule for the week, and any webinars I'd like to attend, etc. in bright colors on my white board, have brightly colored binders and notebooks, post-its, etc....these things attract your attention every time you walk by and gives you that friendly reminder that you'd like to be a (Insert Goal Here) Licensed Vet Tech one day...so yeah, break time's over. =)
I think studying is one part dedication, two parts consistency, and one part learning how to balance our lives, so we can sit back and enjoy the ride to our dreams.