A different way to play

Make ur own build

Temple takes too long to be set up correctly. The only thing you are missing out from 12h per day first week is how easy it is to sell items. If you were playing 200 hours for the first month and then quit, you can play 50 hours a month (or roughly 2 hours per day) and achieve the exact same things over the entirety of the league (4 months). It sounds actually a lot more healthy to do that way.

Regarding farming, find a mechanic that you enjoy and invest into it. Good examples that don't require atlas are Sekhema and Chaos Trials, but you won't access the temple (which is good even when not optimized).

For the atlas Ritual, Expedition, Breach, Abyss, Delirium, Corruption zones, Temple, Spirits, Rogue exiles... as far as you set up your atlas tree, tablets and waystones in a way that maximize returns specifically for one thing you will generate profit.

Regarding crafting I personally enjoyed learning how to craft certain specific items, but many people complain about how it is akin to gambling.

I started doing this this league because I was tired of attempting cookie cutter builds and not really succeeding in them. Usually it starts with can I stick THIS and THAT together and will they work? What feels good and what would be fun?

I don't get it. You used to rush and follow guides. Now, you don't want to rush and follow guides. So you're asking for guidance in order to not rush nor follow guides in an effective way?

My brother, uninstall all internet browsers and leave you cellphone with your dog before logging in. Just to not be tempted. Go in blind, choose skills based on how cool the animation is. Have fun.

Try hardcore solo self found. Play it slow, check the vendor every session for potential upgrades, prepare for bosses by switching resistance gear..

Its such awesome experience. I died to monkey act 3 and continue now in just ssf

Maybe wisp farming

My friends and I play for about 4 hours a week, it took us until last week to reach mapping and are still having a blast. This game does not require a ton of investment to get a lot out of a given league imo.

I recently started playing ssf hardcore got to lvl 64. If you like roguelikes this is kinda like Poe version of a rogue like. Pretty fun gambling with limited currency and shopping stores for occasionally sick finds.

Also playing the league mechanic from the start was pretty fun since it helps you power up quicker and also temple is a fresh start so you get the hang of it too

Gameplay is typically slower until your build starts kicking off. Kinda forces you to pay attention to what’s going on instead of mindlessly running around. Slower but imo as rewarding if you’re ok with dying and restarting to learn what kills you and to work on keeping defenses up

Pick a theme, try make that theme into reality, regardless of optimization

Just log in man, lol. It's a game you don't need to follow Uber guide xyz and try to be in the top of the league. The real fun is just playing the game and trying to make your cool build pop off that you made and being proud of it.