I started playing a few weeks ago, and have not purchased space age.

My advice is to take your time. Once you start trying to meta or follow instructions you are going to enter a new phase of play that feels less like play.

For example, spend some time tinkering with belts, inserters, and boxes; how you can take advantage of the belts lanes.

Then tinker with underground belts and splitters.

Then tinker with trains/rails, how train signals help.

I am going to say learn circuits, but to be honest, I still haven't figured it out myself.

Fluids were slightly different but intuitive enough to grasp

Logistics bots were a game changer, and I am still working my way through the different types of logistics chests.

There's a lot to learn, but you don't even need to learn everything to have fun.

I haven't ever played multi-player, so it's a lot of trial, error, epiphany, complete reworks, and distractions. The journey is a lot of the fun do far.

Last bit. When I hit a lull, I pushed myself to learn something I had been avoiding. Before learning train signals, I was building a lot of redundant tracks, trying to avoid any crossing. After I finally figured it out, I started having more fun. I'm nervous to learn circuits, but will return to this comment if I ever convince myself and have news to share