Heya, Ubi!
I would certainly qualify as a "newbee" myself. I kept bees (for one season) when I was a kid, and have done a ridiculous amount of research since then. For the next 15 years. Literally. And I've finally gotten a house where I could keep my own, and put everything I've learned to the test.
I'll tell you this. It doesn't matter HOW much you learn. How much you read, and how much you follow bee masters like Michael Bush. The first time you crack open your own hive, the adrenaline and sheer panic will take over. Once you've finally put that top back on the hive, you'll spend the next week wondering if you should open it again to see what you got wrong.
As others have said, the bees just... don't... care... Whatever you screw up, they'll fix. Whatever you got wrong, they won't remember. Worst case scenario, you'll kill the queen (a legit concern when you go rooting through every frame, but even then, she's pretty good at keeping herself out of the crossfire). Even in this case, they'll have a solution there, too. May take them a month or two to get it straight, but they'll fix it.
I'm pretty sure I got lucky with my queen. NO idea whether she's Russian, Italian, or Khazakstanian. But my bees are as docile as can be, and super producers, so I've been luckier than most for my first time out. In fact, I packaged the bees 3 months ago, and could take a full harvest today if I wanted to stress them that much. (I've taken a total of 6 frames of honey, though - with over 14 left to spare!)
So I think the message here is, if you sit back and remember that bees are one of the single most NATURAL livestock that one can possibly have, they've made it for MILLIONS of years without our "help." They'll figure it out even if we jack up their hive like a honey badger. The stress is more on us than it is on them.
I would strongly recommend that you check out Michael Bush's recommendations on how to raise bees. (
www.bushfarms.com) I learned SO much from his site, and it MAY be playing a role in why I have such contented bees. The two flower nurseries down the road probably play a role too. But if you're not going for straight honey production, he has a massive amount of great tips on how to let the bees just do what they do naturally. And for me, at least, it seems to be working remarkably well.
I will tell you this though... I do NOT recommend using a fleece jacket to work the bees in 100+ degree weather. While it protects you from any potential stings, I think I'm just about two more inspections short of a stroke.