Feel like I'm doing something wrong.

[HEC]

Another "trick" is to do a short duty (like those training one) where you're most likely to receive the Protect from Healer which lasts for 30 minutes so after about 5 minutes of duty you still have 25 minutes of protect left ... (although some class duties will "stripp" you off all currently applied bufs).

[warren-ragnarok]

upgrade your armor and weapons, the stats may give you a 1-3 point upgrade on damage/armor, but believe it or not, those little upgrades make a huge difference