Natural daylight's my go-to as well, especially early morning—seems to highlight imperfections without driving me crazy. Ever tried using a tinted primer afterward? Found it helps smooth things visually without obsessing over every tiny bump...
Tinted primer sounds like a smart move, hadn't thought of that yet. Do you sand lightly between primer coats too, or does that just make things worse? Trying not to overthink this drywall stuff...
Tinted primer definitely helps spot imperfections early, good call on that. As for sanding between primer coats, I usually skip it unless there's an obvious rough patch or drip. Primer's pretty forgiving, and sanding too much can sometimes create more headaches than it solves—been there, done that. You're right not to overthink it though... drywall finishing is one of those things where chasing perfection can drive you nuts. Sounds like you're on the right track already.
I get your point about sanding too much causing headaches, but I dunno... as a newbie, I found sanding lightly between primer coats actually made things easier for me. Maybe it's just beginner's paranoia, but after my first coat dried, I noticed these tiny bumps and ridges that bugged me. A quick pass with fine-grit paper smoothed them right out. Probably overkill, but it gave me peace of mind. Guess it depends how picky you are—or how good your lighting is, haha.
I totally get the urge to sand between primer coats—I did the same thing at first. But honestly, once I switched to a better roller (microfiber instead of cheap foam), those tiny bumps pretty much disappeared. Might save you some sanding headaches next time... just a thought. Either way, whatever keeps you sane during drywall work is worth it, haha.