Learning Photoshop is like learning a new foreign language.

I suggest total immersion. Join a local photo club. There will be advanced shooters willing to work with the less advanced.

I suggest Anthony Morganti, Phlearn and others are free and helpful.

Most of challenge in learning Photoshop is learning what can be done in Photoshop. And then finding out that there are at least 15 ways to achieve a result, each with their nuances. You are embarking on a process - it will take a while. I have been using Photoshop since the mid-90's when they made it available for Windows. I still only know about 30% of what it can do. I use it for general image enhancement, fashion-type retouching and image repair and restoration. Otherwise, I could probably get away with knowing only 10% of what it can do.

Of all the arguments for saving images as raw files, this is probably the weakest. For one thing, all formats are simply data files that must be converted into images, whether raw or TIFF or JPEG. It's just that almost every one has a viewer to reassemble JPEGs and TIFFs. For another, experience shows that "preprocessing" choices made by the photographer (or the camera, for that matter) are passed along and show in the image and controls as the starting point in LightRoom and similar programs, unless intentionally overwritten by choices made by the person doing the processing or by someone else via preloaded profiles.

I carefully set camera adjustments for best initial results and save both raw images for post processing and JPEGs in case I need or want an immediate image. Sometimes I save TIFF files, if my needs call for that. They can be viewed immediately and can be processed all day long with 16 bits of depth and absolutely no loss

All the photographer's referenced in this discussion worked to get it right out of the camera. Not necessarily for printing, but for whatever was coming next. Adams wrote two books about doing so..."The Camera" and "The Negative." He only wrote one ("The Print") about post processing.

So it's all important. Finishing does not negate taking.

Do what works.

For anyone who is following this post, there is a fantastic “loop trip” in this area that will take about 5- or 6-hours driving time. (Depending on your right foot.)
Starting at Moab travel south on US-191 to UT-46 on the left. This road will take you to Paradox Co, Bedrock Co and then Co #141 just before Naturita Co. Turn left at 141 and go towards Gateway Co. Up to this point you will be traveling in very picturesque, sparsely occupied country that looks like Hollywood designed it. From your turn onto 141 the road follows the San Miguel and Dolores rivers and while the first 10 miles or so are more of what you have been seeing it then starts getting dramatic. You will be driving through red rock canyons that seem to have photo opportunities every few FEET! This scenery continues almost to Gateway. (There is a resort there now, but I have no experience with it.)
From Gateway continue on 141 through some more Hollywood country to Grand Junction. At GJ take I-70 west to the route 128 Cisco exit (about 45 mins). That part is boring, sorry. Once on 128 you will enter an area that reminds you of Monument Valley with many more photo ops. as you follow the Colorado river back to US191 and Moab. (See an earlier post for two web shots)