1. Keep on top of your gear.
Gear matters more in this game than it ever did before. If you don't have the right gear, you're going to die.
Gear is available from; Vendors, Market Boards, Quests and Dungeon Drops, ALWAYS try and keep it within 5 levels of your current level, or you'll suffer for it.
THAT MEANS EVERYTHING. Body, Weapon, Accessories. It all matters.
2. Keep that gear repaired!
Your repairs, albeit expensive at times to repair you really need to keep on top of it.
3. Check your rotation!
Are you doing your abilities right? Are you using all of your potential abilities to help evade attacks or perhaps stun/silence enemy attacks? Try googling 'ARR Dragoon Rotation' for some tips.
4. DO NOT grind monsters on the field.
FATES > Hunting Log > Quests > Dungeons > Guildhests, Leves and more are all available to you. These gives you EXP much faster and much more consistently. Yoshi-P specifically noted that he didn't want anyone grinding on the field, so they lowered the EXP yield for open area monsters to make it a 'less viable' option.
5. Have you tried partying?
It may sound a little old fashioned, but for things such as a hunting log, FATES and certain quests partying up with other people helps ease the burden, give it a go sometime.
