Hi Jacob, welcome to the community! Agree totally with your good words about Justin. 
I’ve just started Grade 3, and have had a similar experience. I wonder if it’s typical at this stage? I’ve just readjusted how I define “learning” to include improving existing skills - which includes ironing out the kinks. That helps!
Yea I like the idea of restructuring learning to include improving upon skills I’ve already learned. Thank you!
I know that they are super supportive and constructive in the video section, but I got social anxiety just making this post😬
Ha ha, I’ve been there and done that … and and and although it’s hard to imagine after seeing a number of videos of mine and the many many posts, I felt completely naked the first time at least after 10 times posting a video and still when I post very personal things 
… after a while I/you get used to it, but it takes a freaking long time for me 
… but it also gives a nice kick and that’s funny 
Take you`re time but make absolutely recordings for yourself to watch and especially to listen to because the first few times you are afraid to burst because everyone who has become good does that and it will give your learning process a boost … and your ego too if you do something about it. look back later if you feel like you are not making any progress 
Goodnight 
Welcome in the community 
Grade 1 is 4 to 6 months of training , grade 2 is around a year worth of training
you’ve been doing it in just 6 months … its a tad too fast
If you dont like to do like me and do over and over the exercices , you have to play songs play songs play songs !!!
Play many many songs to put into practice what you’ve learned
A basic understanding is not enough im afraid
Hello Jacob & Welcome!
I’m sure that with the effort you’ve putting into your Journey, the dedication your post indicates & Justin’s (& this Community’s) help, your dreams of playing well will happen! It takes time & lots of repetition!
Someone asked me recently how many hours I have practiced this year… I truly have no idea but I think that if the question would have been how many “D” chords I’ve played, the answer would have been “Thousands”!!! I have all my open chords DOWN because of the reps I have put in!
Like learning any other physical skill… have you ever watched someone learning to pole vault? It’s a bit comical at first… months later though, they’re clearing that bar!!!
Keep your enthusiasm & excitement for guitar, keep playing & keep it Fun!!!
Good luck!
Tod from New Mexico
Welcome Jacob and WOW. I can relate to almost everything you said, including the sciatica (which in my case predates guitar but doesn’t appreciate slumping). Been working with Justin’s team for two years plus, always wanting to try a new lesson or a new song rather than work on technique and timing with the unforgiving metronome. One thing I’ve been trying to do is play standing up. It fixes your posture and makes you play without staring at your fingers. Good luck and good times ahead!
Welcome Jacob!
It sounds like you’re analysing the situation quite well, so that’s a good sign when learning by one’s self.
Oh no - I am recognising myself here!
This has the good effect of always being motivated and having fun!
But try not to make it as much as I do / did - after 4 and 1/2 years, I can play quite nicely for and by myself, but I have very very little to present for any potential listener! Barely any complete song, because I’m no big fan of intros, solos, outros, or little details. And that’s what I’m trying to fix lately…
I’m wishing you lots of success,
Dominique
Hi Jacob, welcome to the community forum. I like to learn new things too and decided to slowly work through grade 3 while I worked on grade 2 consolidation. You can look at my learning log and others learning logs for ideas if interested. I eventually had to alternate weeks between the new grade 3 and the 2 review and consolidation which includes learning a lot of songs. Be sure the look at as many grade 2 and grade 3 song lesson videos as you are able. All the song lessons can include new strumming info and sometimes new chords and riffs. Also when you move to grade 3 a full day of practice lasts 2 hours, which an hour of technical exercises and 1 hour of song practice as advised by Justin. It is OK to work on multiple levels to keep it interesting and when you get to grade 3 you will find a lot of tips for improving your practices and the suggestion to learn songs at multiple levels of difficulty. Have fun.
Welcome, Jacob. This is a very cool place headed up by a very cool guy.
It’s great you can practice a lot, wish I could manage it, maybe next year.
Glad you joined us here.
Glad to see others suffering alongside me😂
Yea I see now that although I get this gist of most of the stuff so far. The accuracy with which I apply the info isn’t going improve, until I put some real conscious effort into understanding more than a gist of the info. The Implementation requires a lot of finesse, and patience for one’s self. I think learning guitar has been very therapeutic for me in that way. I can’t just get frustrated with myself every time I hit a little curve.
I’m scared of the metronome. It exposes me every time😂 yea I had to explore that as well. I knew I wasn’t going to give up guitar. I was just gonna give up sitting!
Yeah, I know my musical library is limited, but I can already see myself just picking up the parts of songs that I enjoy. Then saying to hell with the rest. Trying to make myself stick to a song past when the novelty of learning wears off has been tough! I appreciate you responding!
Hi Jacob,
Welcome to the community forum. 
Thanks for the suggestion. I may dip my toes in a little.
Welcome to the community Jacob. I’m glad you found Justin’s site.
Welcome Grandmaster
Man we are so lucky to find Justin and this great place. I thankful as well.
I am in Arizona, and yes sciatica is just terrible. Do you stretching and keep practicing.
Good luck.
Hello Jacob.
Welcome to JustinGuitar and this fantastic community. Please take your time to look around and get to know the wider space.
https://community.justinguitar.com/categories
We are a supportive and encouraging group of students and guitarists from across the world. Essentially, we are all here for music and to improve as players. We truly are a ‘community’. Members help and support one another and a friendly, positive attitude underpins this. We hope that all - young or old, experienced or new players - adopt and foster the pay-it-forward ethos that Justin personifies and embedded all those years ago when he started the website and forum.
Also, please make sure to read the community etiquette announcement for some important information and guidance.
Richard
Hi Jacob. I’m from Alabama too. Also addicted and in about the same place you are.
People here have all been there. Many are in their own version of ‘there’, right now. They know the pain, anguish, speed bumps, and frustrations we go through. Everyone is pulling for everyone else to be successful, so hang in there, brother.
I’m in Baldwin county, have a sister (and nieces and nephews) in Prattville, and have friends and connections in Huntsville, Muscle Shoals and Nashville. If you are close to any of those places, we could connect and commiserate.
Remember Fred Neil?
“Everybody’s talkin’ at me”
“Can’t hear a word they’re sayin’”
“Only the echo-chamber of my mind”
Well, come on down to where the sun keeps shining, through the pouring rain.
Welcome.