Often, the problem becomes the fact that there's unlimited ways to do things. This becomes overpowering and will inhibit creative flow.
Here's some ideas that will get you started in the world of modern audio production.
1) limit yourself.
Use only 8 channels of audio and 8 channels of midi.
Many great records of our time was recorded with no more than 4 channels of audio, and then 8 channels of audio. The White Album by the Beatles comes to mind, that had that whopping 8 channels of audio. And midi? What's that?
Set up your daw to only have these 8 channels (stereo channels if you'd like) and perhaps only a few midi tracks. If you only use software synths and samplers, then limit yourself to maximum of 4. Record/overdub/bounce to audio as you need, but keep in mind you only have 8 audio tracks.
This forces you to be creative, using one audio track for more than one thing.
This also forces you to mix in a different way while producing, making it sound much better by the time the mixing comes around.
1.5) choose your "hardware"
Modern production uses many vst instruments.
Let's pretend you don't have more than say 3.
Chose wisely! Perhaps one synth, one drum machine, and one sampler. Ofc this will vary depending on the music you make.
2) use loops/sequences
Create short 1-4 bar loops to build your track.
If your synth has sequencing built in like let's say the sh-101; use it! Don't use the pianoroll of your daw. Matter of fact, try to use that as little as possible. They didn't have no damn pianoroll back then!
3) setup the daw
When creating those 8 tracks of audio and midi, take some time to also setup your mixer.
Choose your sends wisely. Say a maximum of 6. This will be for reverbs and delays. For example set them up like this: room, hall, throw, slapback, pingpong, ambience. Just as a starting point. Set it and forget it.
Set up inserts. Chose only a handfull of plugins you are allowed to use. Think of it like you would own the actual pieces in hardware. For example only one eq plugin. Only one compressor. So on.
By limiting yourself, you are forced to become creative and the weight of having infinite possibilities will be lifted. You will simply pretend you don't have 274 different eq plugins or reverbs.
Set up a template in your daw. That way, every time you want to start making music, you have everything set up nicely. Your audio, midi, sends, synths loaded etc.
Feel free to offer suggestions, your own ideas, and let's make it a thread focusing on limiting yourself in the world of modern music production in order to induce creativity and lessen the burden of overwhelming possibilities.