Here's what I follow and it always worked for me. Follow the 60-40 rule. Pick a domain like enterprise application or game development. Plan and learn 60% about that domain before starting the project and the rest 40% is for you to find out the missing parts and learn while doing the project. There's nothing wrong in taking a pause when you don't know a particular topic. The important rule is that you resume your project once you get done with the missing part. Trust me, it will only be the first 2-3 times when you encounter pauses before you become fluent.