I've picked up the guitar again after 25 years of not playing it.  I was never very good so started the lessons from the beginning of the Fundamentals course.  I've made good progress (at least to my mind) in three months, nearing the end of the Level 2 Fundamentals course now.

What I haven't done is spent a lot of time learning songs.  So far the only whole song I've learned is Nirvana - About a Girl (from the lesson on this site).  I have a bunch of other songs that I'm using a riff from to practice things like pick accuracy and finger accuracy (Californication, Plug in Baby, Street Spirit) but I'm not really learning the whole song.

I guess before I dive into the intermediate Rock course, am I going about this the right way?  Are the 'mini-songs' in the lessons enough to consolidate my skills or do I need to be putting more time into learning songs for that consolidation to happen?

Thoughts please!  What have other people done / had success with.  Bear in mind I'm in my 40s now with a family.  Much as I'd love to be practising 3 hours a day (like I used to on my mountain bike in my teenage years), that's not going to happen.  30 - 45 mins before bed most nights is my lot.

Thanks all!

Tom