Need help improving, have no idea where to start...

Half the stuff I read online makes no sense.

Have a current elo of 154, which used to be around 400.

Want to get better.

Clearly pretty crap.

Help appreciated.

And worse I'm 17, so it's not like I'm some young kid that can't understand chess.

Edit: (11/4/24 3:10 pm) Yipee, now I'm 100 elo... I don't even know what to do at this point.

Always blunder check before you move.
Analyse your lost games and learn from your mistakes.

I'm not really sure how to analyze games, I see the indicators that say things like "blunder" and "mistake" but I'm not really sure how to implement these things into later games. I also have no clue about anything in regard to openings and stuff and how to "study" anything and don't know where to begin. I don't just want to play game after game being crap and banging my head against the wall because I keep on loosing and playing crap.

At the start it’s about geting used to the game. Play 100 games at rapid speed and you will get the hang of it. Just avoid blitz and bullet

@3

"how to analyze games" ++ Take a game you lost. Identify your mistakes and focus on your last, decisive mistake. Why was it a mistake? What was the good move? What moves did you consider? Dit you consider the good move? If no, then why not? If yes, then why did you play the mistake instead? How much time did you spend on the mistake? How much time did you have available on your clock?

"how to implement these things into later games" ++ The point is to avoid similar mistakes in later games and exploit similar mistakes by your opponents in later games.

"I also have no clue about anything in regard to openings" ++ Do not worry about openings. You do not win or lose because of the opening, but because of tactical mistakes. The openings is about developing your pieces into play in such a way that you control the center. Play two pawns, play your knights, play your bishops, castle your king to safety also to connect your rooks.

"don't know where to begin" ++ Begin with endgames: first 3 men, then 4 men, then 5 men.

"I don't just want to play game after game"
++ Play and whenever you lose a game, analyse it thoroughly.

"I keep on loosing and playing crap" ++ The point is to learn from your losses.