> I'm at the start of a 4-5 month stretch where I absolutely need to cover 4 highly technical subjects, on my own and unguided, to continue my studies.
Get yourself a mentor/supervisor who will (a) help you come up with a plan that prioritises those four subjects, (b) have regular interaction with you to track your progress, and (c) chew you out if you don't stick to the plan.
This seems to be a common issue for young, intelligent, technically-minded people. In my opinion, the solution is self-discipline and prioritisation (and, implicitly, having the judgement to know what should be prioritised).
Get yourself a mentor/supervisor who will (a) help you come up with a plan that prioritises those four subjects, (b) have regular interaction with you to track your progress, and (c) chew you out if you don't stick to the plan.
This seems to be a common issue for young, intelligent, technically-minded people. In my opinion, the solution is self-discipline and prioritisation (and, implicitly, having the judgement to know what should be prioritised).