I don't know if you have been into Smithing but I played a couple of different characters, and the first one I totally ignored Smithing, and it took me forever to level up. The Smithing levels you up, improves your armor so it absorbs more and levels light or heavy armor up faster, and improves your weapons so they do more damage, leveling either one handed or two handed weapons faster. I hope this isn't a spoiler in any way but make sure you have a pickaxe and go to Kolskeggr mine, you will have to fight a bunch of forsworn but you can load up on gold ore there, and turn it to ingot right outside of the mine. Same goes for silver if you go to Karthwasten (close to Kolskeggr), which has two silver mines, and you don't have to fight anyone. Smith some jewelry and you will level up that skill, especially if you have acquired some jewels to add to it. Then improve your armor and weapons and in my experience, you will level much faster. There is also the option, with the money you make on the jewelry, go to Balimund in Riften and get further smithing training from him. Hope that helps.
