Been there! I think it’s rare that people have the luxury of un-pressured time to invest in skills. Sometimes expediency wins the battle of the day, and that’s perfectly okay. I find that just knowing that you’re eventually aiming beyond that helps with spotting the moments where you can squeeze in some longer term skill-building.
Good luck, and I look forward to your next question! (Obligatory link to some key guidelines: FAQ: Tips for writing R-related questions and FAQ: Tips for Introducing Non-Programming-Problem Discussions) 