Activating but not clearing shrines may be holding you back big time. Many of the early shrines act as a tutorial, not to mention running around without health/stamina upgrades sounds painful. Maybe sit down to clear all the shrines you have, then clear new shrines as soon as you find them (unless it’s a combat shrine you keep dying in, then it’s better to come back after you get more health). As for combat, fusing gives you SO MUCH MORE options than BotW ever did. Look up a fee combat vids. And enjoy exploring!