Your number one step is privacy. Privacy is the foundation of freedom; it “protects the right to be left alone”.
If you’re a beginner, Naomi Brockwell’s videos have very good tips. If you’re not a beginner, read Michael Bazzell’s book Extreme Privacy. Read it in full and decide the level of privacy you want (you likely will not need every single one of his tips).
Encryption requires no respect from the State