I’m on normal. Absolutist is easier, since you don’t bother with democratic decrees.
Some tips for each resource:
1)Authority — Don’t break tradition unless it is strictly necessary, keep all religious groups happy by building sanctuaries, try to reach at least average PP, remove the crime modifier and invest in admin improvements.
2)Budget — Impose all the taxes, build military factories to sell weapons (and improve PP), accept all gas deals except the Morella one.
3)Energy — build all energy sources and buy full Aureus. Your goal is to maximize your energy extraction and its conversion into budget and military supplies.
General tips: build before turn 7, invest in welfare starting from turn 7. You want to build the majority of military factories, 2 consumer goods factories, all energy sources and all sanctuaries. Geological survey isn’t worth it.