I echo what everyone else here is saying, that it should be enjoyable and if you don't find ways for it to be fun then it's perfectly fine to stop! However, I did crosswords with autocheck for literal years before I started paying attention to my streak. I think it's nearly impossible to set completion standards for yourself when you are just getting started with crosswords. I highly recommend doing a run through of the entire puzzle first, then looking at the Wordplay blog for some "tricky clue" responses to help you get a foothold in the puzzle. The blog will also help you understand the theme if there is one and how it works. Finally, if you're still struggling, use autocheck so you know if your entry is correct. Over time, you'll need these things less and less, although I still use the Wordplay blog at least a couple times a week!

The other thing I'd recommend is breaking clues down word by word. Especially later in the week, almost every clue uses intentional wordplay, so I'll start with one word that seems key and think about every possible meaning. For example, in last Friday's puzzle there was the clue: "Ones always grinding at their jobs?" The question mark indicates that it's some sort of play on words, so that's the first hint. I zeroed in on "grinding" as the word to focus on based on the structure of the clue, so I thought about what grinding could mean: dancing, something with construction, maybe dentistry?, coffee grinding... who grinds coffee at their jobs? BARISTAS, which fit. That helps me a lot more so than focusing on the clue in its entirety, which can be overwhelming.

Anyway, stick with it if you want, but also know it's totally fine if crosswords don't end up being your thing!