What foundational mods and load order should I use for stable Skyrim modding in 2024

[Timothy78]

After years away, I'm diving back into Skyrim with the goal of creating a stable, visually enhanced, and gameplay-rich modded experience, but I'm completely overwhelmed by the current modding landscape and tools like Vortex. I want to overhaul the graphics, improve combat and magic, and add some quality-of-life features without breaking the game or causing constant crashes. For veteran modders, what are the essential foundational mods and tools I should install first in 2024 to build a solid base? How do you approach load order for a large list, and are there any specific compatibility patches or guides you'd recommend for someone who wants a significant upgrade but doesn't have the time to troubleshoot hundreds of individual mod conflicts?