It is great that you have realized your time is precious. This realization can be paralyzing -- you might start over-thinking everything trying to make up for

It is great that you have realized your time is precious. This realization can be paralyzing -- you might start over-thinking everything trying to make up for lost time. Don't do this. Sometimes there are no shortcuts in life. And trying to take one could actually take longer. The good news is that you are interested in doing things and are willing to give it a serious try. Just pursue your new interests without worrying about your "lost" time. If you can immerse yourself, you will catch up sooner than you think. Taking a data structures CS is a good starting point :)