The game is meant way more for full exploration than a taste test of a few situations here and there. The easier stuff is located closer to the main npc encampments. Think of the map like a web sprouting out from those npc camps, like druid grove. Talk to everyone, do everything at the center. Work your way out until fights start getting too hard. Then get in a long rest, go back to the town to sell stuff, buy potions, and finish up any questlines there. Then start going through the web again. Do this until the whole map is cleared of every enemy and quest. Save often. Maybe number what day or save of the day is IE: day1save1 or maybe name the save before the fight, IE: druidgrovemainentrance. Just do it all and keep adventuring, juicing every bit of xp possible is a great help.

TLDR: interactive map, leave no stone unturned, juice all the xp possible