Tips for improving?

So ive been playing chess for a short while seriously now (A couple months but ive played casually most of my life, but VERY casually.) and im really trying to improve.

I followed chess.coms study plan for beginners (i guess i still am) and started taking notes on things i noticed myself doing wrong and common openings that lead to disaster (the most recent being e4 e5 qh5).

Mainly ive been focusing more on my mindset which is what is causing me most games. I make moves blndly only to spot my mistake a split-second later and "tunnel vision" into one line without reviewing the board for consequences. I don't use my time well, often ending 15|10 games with 13+ minutes. Im also starting to use only 1-2 pieces without developing in strange openings. All of these things i can put a stop to if i just stopped myself and made my brain think things through, but thats alot harder then it sounds.

Game-wise, im trying to just focus on tactics. Creating forks, pincers etc and attempting to spot better moves, spot and shut down my opponents attempts and read lines 3-4 moves in advance. 

I didnt think it was too wise to start getting into opening theory and whatnot, considering after 200 games in a month and a new account, im still hovering around the 1000 mark.

I realise chess takes years to learn and play well along with dedication and study but right now im struggling with mindset and the basics (e.g not making stupid mistakes by reading the board fully and properly)

Anyone have some advice for someone looking to improve?

Dan Heisman has a lot of free Novice Nook articles that address EXACTLY the types of problems you seem to be having.

Sounds interesting. Please post some games (Standard live) and comment why you played the several moves. In cases you don´t know why, just write this. No problem. I will look through over some games and try to give some advice, if you like.

I went over one of your games and I think you should start on your thought process.  Checks, captures, and threats and focus on safety. 

Ah wow those dan heisman articles are really something. Going to dig my teeth into some of those now :D (at 4am, no less.)

@Maurill / all  - I will go through one or two of my games tomorrow with my thought process for my moves. As i said, its 4am, bit late for me right now.

Thanks very much oogieboogie, your analysis pointed out a great deal of errors in my play that i dont think i would see myself :)

If anyone has some great recommendations for articles / books i should read, please let me know! Ive been keeping away from these as i think it would do more harm then good if i start getting into the minute details and complex things without learning the basics.

And for anyone wondering why i am up at 4am, i decided a day off work, a night of gaming and sitting up to see my wife off at 6am was a good idea. Needless to say by 2am my childish spirit was dampered and kept alight only by coffee.

Heisman is great I have his Improving Chess Thinker.  I looked at his amateur game book, which had a great premise but wound up being a borderline data dump.  Still, Improving Chess Thinker is great for any level. Just make sure you type down your thoughts and calculations (do not move pieces ahead) for each position and don't move too fast.  Keep track of time taken too. 

2...Nf6 was objectively best, but at the same time they expect that.  3...d5 is a strong move though De Firmian thinks it's a tad too dynamic.  If 4.exd5,Nxd5 5.Bxd5?!,Qxd5 6.Nc3,Qa5 and the queen is just barely in the safety zone, but in it nevertheless and watches over the fifth while exerting some tactical pressure on c3.  6...Qd8 is perfectly playable too. 

Sure,

If you want to improve your tactical game solve lots of problems without setting them up on a chess board or on a computer hard ones, medium ones, 2 movers, 3 movers, mates in 1 another thing you do to improve is play over game collections of attacking players and meaty minature books full of violence and blood.

Suggested.............

1000 Best Short Games of Chess by Chernev

http://www.amazon.com/1000-Best-Short-Games-Chess/dp/4871875741/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385516117&sr=8-1&keywords=1000+chess+miniatures

The Life and Games of Carlos Torre:

http://www.amazon.com/Life-Games-Carlos-Torre/dp/1888690070/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385521031&sr=1-2&keywords=carlos+chess

Alekhine`s Games

http://www.amazon.com/My-Best-Games-Chess-1908-1937/dp/193649065X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385517021&sr=8-1&keywords=alekhine+chess

Charousek`s Games of Chess

http://www.amazon.com/Charouseks-Games-Chess-Biographical-Introduction/dp/0486258327/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385517053&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=charosek

The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal

http://www.amazon.com/Life-Games-Mikhail-Tal/dp/1857442024/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385517100&sr=8-1&keywords=mikhail+tal

Khalifman Life and Games by Genaddy Nesis

http://www.amazon.com/Khalifman-Life-Games-Everyman-Chess/dp/1857442121/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385517223&sr=8-1&keywords=khalifman+chess

Vishy Anand: World Chess Champion

http://www.amazon.com/Vishy-Anand-World-Chess-Champion/dp/1906454329/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385517358&sr=8-1&keywords=Anand+chess

Nezhmetdinov`s Best Games of Chess

http://www.houseofstaunton.com/nezhmetdinov-s-best-games-of-chess.html

Practice makes the player play alot of Chess against opponents that play well and have fighting spirit. Have fun and don't discouraged if you lose alot of games at first every time you play Chess you are a winner no matter the result!