I haven't been playing Sims for long, but so far I found the scheme I really enjoy:
- Multiple households in rotation.
- Each household focused around 1-2 themes (like cooking and restaurants, space and science, business and politics etc) and they do/learn/explore everything there is about it.
- A lot of headcanons, I want them to have personalities beyond traits, feelings beyond moodlets, motives beyond whims, I want stories beyond breeding.
- "Color-coding" my households and Sims - may seem weird, but each household and every Sim within it has a color theme, or a palette if you wish, which I use in all of their outfits and to some extent in interiors too - I put a lot of time and effort to it and really enjoy it ("color-coded" most of the premades too)
- Don't have kids unless I know exactly who I want them to be in future. All roles are planned.
- Have all my Sims befriend each other and stay in touch.