I have been recently been rocking a hardcore world. To tell you what I meano ¦ i got 2 horses, a donkey, 3 wolves, a ton of food, a secure shelter, AND 3 diamonds. Thats right. 3 diamonds. So let me help you if you need help. You can ask me questions and I will answer them. Nowo ¦. lets get startedo ¦o ¦..

Home:

I recommend 2 ways of home.

1. A home 50 blocks down in the ground, so no mobs all up in your face.

2. A cage of fences, 25 blocks each side in a square.
Make sure you have a farm. Both animal farm and a food farm.
Make a underground safe house, even if you're still underground, with a chest, furnace, and crafting table. put stuff n the chest such as food, tools, a weapon, and torches.
torches. Lots and Lots of torches. EVERYWHERE.

Fighting:

Bow and arrow are safest, and sword if necessary.
Explosions and lava are NOT RECOMMENDED.

Mining:

Always have an escape route, coal, extra wood, and a weapon.
never get lost.
torch every dark spot.
never dig straight down or up

And the very important topic, ALWAYS CARRY TO TYPES OF FOOD:

A Stack of food that restores much hunger bars, and a stack of food that restores small amounts, like cookies.