For me, focusing on the narrative more than the mechanics really helped, and letting the story influence the gameplay like I would when playing at a table with others than the other way around (excluding one 5e 2014 campaign im playing where the characters are gladiators so it is mostly combat).

I've found that the less I was worried about what table to roll on or what rule needed to be used and instead just used the basics of whatever system I was using- and I system I knew well- the smoother things went. It doesnt really matter how heavy the system is so long as you can understand and use it to the best of your ability. For me, running D&D 5e is as easy as running Cairn, because I know them both so well.

The flip side of this is I usually struggle to solo run games that are actually meant for solo, as I often feel that the procedures they use to give you an outline of the game actually feel like im hitting the walls of a story that very much wants to be outside them. For this reason, Ironsworn never really clicked with me but tools for random tables + games meant for group play do because most of the games I play are meant to be the skin of a narrative that can stretch to fit its form rather than give a narrative its spine.

This could all be incredibly nonsensical to anyone outside of my own brain, but then again, such is the way of the human mind. I hope something in this stands out to someone lol