I don't know if the OP is after any kind of help or advice considering the use of terms "work" and "grind". These are good tells that maybe it's not the best game for the OP (and this is not some sort of tame "git gud", not all games are for everyone).

That being said, the main mistake was not understanding the gameplay, especially when it comes to "biomes". While you're free to roam anywhere you want, Valheim biomes are roughly "levels" in a more traditional game. This is hinted by the raven the first time you enter the Black Forest. It is usually a really bad idea to explore a biome prior to "conquering" the previous one. By skipping from Black Forest to Plain you essentially skipped 2 biomes. "Conquering" in this context doesn't mean defeating the boss, but reaching a level of skills/equipment/food that makes the biome essentially "safe-ish".

Now the crux of the issue really is that you don't seem to be having fun with the game. It shouldn't be work or a grind. Yes some players get into speed runs and more power to them, but I really don't think that's how the game was designed. You're supposed to alternate base building, resource gathering, farming, exploration, etc to make sure you're not "grinding".