I'm A Banana
Potassium-Rich
"How do you learn what to ignore from what you read on EnWorld?" Because each amazing tip takes time. I make NPCs with a single memorable trait now, off a list -- so that adds a minute to every (scarred, glamorous, or solipsist) NPC I build. Then I give them a motivation so I can improv their plans and dialogue. But now I'm cutting into the time for all the other awesome tips -- making three clues for every revelation in the plot, adding interesting terrain to a combat, making sure to plan for failure in a skill challenge.
I follow what I call the "Gygax Guideline."
When in doubt, consult a random table.
Something gone over in The Paradox of Choice is that needing to make decisions and weigh options generally makes you less happy with what you choose than if someone gave you a much more narrow set of options.
So let the dice narrow those options for you.
3e had me rolling for random towns, random NPC traits, random dungeon trimmings, random encounters, random magic items...all of this was super for me. 1e has even more, and most of those tables are still good some decades later. [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Encounter-Dungeons-Dragons-Fantasy-Roleplaying/dp/1931275548"]Add some friggin' tables[/ame].
Un-think.