Don't attempt to study machine learning. Pick an outcome you want ... and study enough to get that done.

For the record, machine learning is a topic where (1) it's easy to fool yourself with over-optimistic test result (2) it's easy to waste months improving parts of a project which do not matter in the end . These problems are both mitigated (somewhat) by learning the foundations.

Not to say you wouldn't learn a lot by just diving in. Diving in, then going back and figuring out what you were doing seems like it could be a good thing for many people.