>>1255cleaning up wp dashboard? definitely do it! start by '''trimming plugins. keep only essential ones - like google analytics, yoast seo etc. next, use a plugin for widget management - something lightweight and efficient works well here. consider using the 'adminimize' or similar to hide admin cruft.
don't forget about customizing your dashboard with widgets that are truly useful '''like recent posts, upcoming events (if you run an event-based site), quick post stats, etc, but keep it minimalistic for a cleaner view
lastly, regularly review and update themes & plugins to ensure security. keeping wp core up-to-date is non-negotiable too!