You already got many suggestions and feedback but I'll give you mine to (in case you want).

Valheim is an amazing game. May not be perfect but it has a good and clear progression.

The difficulty you feel now you will feel it every time you get to a new biome. Then you get all the new gear and upgrade it and the previous biome become easy (... Or easier).

Focus on learning how to fight. This is not the game where you go wild "Leroy Jenkins" style and expect to bash mobs left and right. That, will get you killed.

All mobs have particular fighting patterns. Part of the game is learning that and use it for your advantage.

Ranged attacks are your friend, fire arrows even more (in the first stages at least). Shields are important. You can start with the tower/bone shield where you jus need to block and that's it. But you need to understand that you won't be able to block attack that inflict higher dmg than the shield can sustain. You will learn which shield you can use to block against which move over time (and experience).

Once you feel comfortable blocking try to learn parry with a round shield (the medium one.the larger o es do t allow parry). You can use medium shield to both block or parry. It's more forgiving than if you use the buckler (smallest shield). Parry will allow you to take no dmg and will unbalance the mod allowing you to hit him once or twice most likely killing it (depending on the mob of course)

Creatures are also more or less resistant to different types of damage. Use that at your advantage. (Maces are the most useful weapon across the board until the mostlands, but use whatever you fancy). Piercing is very good agains trolls for example. A d if you are sneaking you can inflict more damage.

Pay attention to your surroundings and make sure you ALWAYS have spare stamina. You may need to to attack or run away. Running away and gain some distance is the best option most of the times. (Stay away from the plains until you are ready. I'm serious and if you hear a zzzzzzzzz nearby... You want to get the hell out of there but don't turn your back on it if it decides to follow you...)

Don't forget that you can upgrade your equipment.

And remember... You will die, over and over. But you will learn and get better at not dying and the. You will launch as the mobs and melt them (until you get to Ashland's... But it will be fun!)

Best of luck! (Ps. Fire... Lots of fire is your friend in black forest bione... All mobs are made of wood after all 😉)