You’ve got beyond viewing and printing the odd map and want to create your own projects.
A high degree of file and project management discipline will keep you sane.
Data (Map Data folder) are kept separate from projects (Map Projects folder).
Remember to keep your personal projects out of the public map area.
When you save a project or associated file (e.g. styles, legends and templates) remember to go to your desktop first and then head over to your own project area.
For your personal projects you want to keep data separate from project files.
Remember that and you will not go crazy looking for your project files.