How to move in the right direction?

Question

IT education

Hello! I have been writing in php for several years (for myself, my projects), but I constantly come across the fact that after writing some code a year ago and seeing that it works, I repeat it again and it turns out that after 2-3 years I especially didn't improve my programming skills...
Let me explain... I can write almost anything, but the code itself will be clumsy as hell. And that's why!!! That after reading some new method it is difficult to determine whether it is really good and having come up with some interesting function for my site, I cannot determine in the right direction I am moving. After all, I can learn something wrong and will constantly move in the wrong direction?
Here is the question, how do all programmers determine in which direction to move and how to choose the right one?

Answer 1

I think it is important to share experience with other programmers, try to participate in the joint development of some project

Answer 2

two words "Open source"
Participate, discuss, steal, invent, write.
Well, in general, develop erudition in your field. This helps a lot, because it becomes easier to present the general concept of solving the problem and there is more choice in the ways of solving it.