Tl;DR: I'm having a hard time creating a map that I'm satisfied with as reference material for both my lore, and an actual novel I'm writing. Even if I create a map I'm initially satisfied with, that satisfaction disappears a short time after. Help?

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I'm creating a map as a reference for my novel. I have lore written up that explains the background to the events that take place prior (again, for my own reference), but I'm struggling to create a world it would realistically work in (very loosely "realistic"). The first map I drew, I included an ocean because there were people that lived there. In subsequent revisions and remakes, I cut out the ocean, since my characters never travel there.

First, I thought I struggled with technique. I've asked quite a few questions about how to make mountains (as that particular part of my world is a mountainous region). I've looked at other fantasy maps. I've looked at screenshots from my favorite open world games and tried to visualize how they would be marked on a map. I've also looked at maps for those games. Nothing seems to help. I've questioned whether it's just a matter of me never being satisfied with my work (perfectionist over here - strong possibility).

I don't need the map to be perfect. I just need it to be good enough that I can have a reliable reference to work with the lore, as well as the actual telling of my novel. However, even if I make a map I'm satisfied with at the start... give it a few days, and I dislike it all over again, and it gets scrapped.

I do see myself commissioning someone for a more reader-friendly version of said map, though it would DEFINITELY be more on the stylish side rather than realistic. And again... would be based off my reference map.

Does anyone else struggle with this? How do you do it? I want to get into mapmaking, especially with apps such as Wonderdraft and Inkarnate.