It's not bad if you take it slow and don't rush. Get to know your current biome and improve your gear and food before moving up to the next one. When you get to a new area use an abundance of caution until you get used to it, don't just run around and expect it to be fine. Make bases or portals as soon as you enter a new area so you don't have to walk as far to get your stuff back. Look at guides if you get stuck, especially for the bosses. Beware of falling trees and don't park your boat in a swamp.

Improving your gear is a bit of a grind though. This is one of those games where it's the journey that counts, not the destination. If you're only interested in beating the game then you might not enjoy it as much.