I totally relate. At the start it is so obvious how to meaningfully progress your character; fight those decaying skeletons, fill out slots with cloth armor, collect backpacks, equip the best rusty two hander you can find.
Once you've done this things may get a bit more obscure... perhaps you read the in game beginners manuals for tradeskills and try to make some patchwork armor or sharpen your rusty weapon. After this progress seems to be treacle slow!
Starting out on the server something I found useful when was to use the wiki to
search for equipment by class and slot. This gave me the opportunity to see what was out there in the world, and where to go to earn it!
Don't be afraid either to post in the forums, or ask in game, for advice. Include details like your level, your class, where you currently are, and what you are looking for (friends, xp, equipment, money) and the forum regulars will love to unload their knowledge on to you.