A recipe can look short until you reach the instruction to chill the dough for an hour. Reading through first prevents a late surprise when people are already waiting for dessert.
Check the ingredient states as well as the quantities. Melted fat, softened fat, and cold fat are not interchangeable instructions. Notice whether the recipe calls for room-temperature liquids, a prepared pan, or a particular mixing tool.
Set out what you need and identify any substitutions before combining ingredients. If a crucial component is missing, choose another recipe while you still have separate ingredients rather than half a bowl of batter.
Also look at the serving instructions. A loaf that needs cooling or a dessert that needs setting is not ready the moment it leaves the oven. Planning that final wait is part of making the result enjoyable.