The small css habit that changed my busy month with an ambitious constraint

I had a disappointing first try, a surprisingly good second try, and then a third attempt that taught me humility. So, naturally, I now have opinions.

Would love to hear how other people handle this. I am especially curious about the version that works on a tired weekday, not just on an ideal Sunday.

Context: I am not an expert, just someone trying to make Web Dev feel less intimidating. I wrote down what worked, what felt awkward, and what I would do differently next time