Middle game issues part 3

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Avatar of maremar3

So I reached this position as White, and it was my turn. I still have trouble finding a long-term plan or a clear idea of what to aim for. I ended up playing e5, which turned out to be an inaccurate move. My thought process was to open up the center since my clock was running low and I couldn’t spend too much time here.

What can I learn from this position to improve my thought process when I encounter similar positions in the future?