I would advise patience. The learning curve is quite steep and often times the documentation is out of step with the current release.
There are a number of beginner’s guides, but I can’t find the link to them. Here’s one: 20 things I wished I knew when I started with Home Assistant here’s another The Home Assistant Cookbook - Index
When you create an automation, use the visual editor first. YAML editing is good for fine tuning or copying code from someone else.
I test my automation actions by writing a script so I don’t mess up what I’ve written in the automation or the automation won’t save because there is an error in it.
Design your idea before you start writing it. What is it you want to accomplish? One of my desires was to have a motion sensor turn on a light, but sometimes I wanted that light to be on all the time or off all the time. I ended up writing six automations with two helpers. Start with this one, automatically close your shutters at sunset and open them at sunrise (or whenever you usually get up)
Cloud based devices often don’t work if your internet goes down. The manufacturer can cease the service, sell it to another, or start charging for it. One thing is certain, the manufacturer collects data about your habits. Being open source and avoiding the cloud is one of HA’s tennents. I speak from experience.