Lots of great info above that really speaks to the generosity of the people on these boards.
When I realized that I had a burning desire to learn “the right way” to do things, I decided to take an online ground school course. While most are geared toward passing the written, if you take one, you’ll learn a lot about flying and yes, regulations. You’ll learn what the basic instruments are for and how to do things the sim lets you slide on, like weight and balance, fuel and density altitude calculations. Many of the popular ground schools go on sale from time to time.
A great book put out by the FAA will explain a lot of what you’re asking. I’m old school and prefer books to videos. I’m not talking about the FAR/AIM, which is daunting, but this one:
It’s an easy read and full of color photos and diagrams. Good luck with your training!