It seems to me that you overestimate the role of tactics in a practical game. Tactics involves the emergence of a position in which everything is prepared for a tactical strike. It is worth paying attention of your openig preparation.
Tactics only appear due to mistakes by your opponent. With good positional play from your opponent (especially any sort of prophylaxis) and tactics won't show up for you. You should learn openings and positional play to improve yourself.
"I feel like the more I learn about Chess, the worse I play":
On march 13th your rating was 1419.
Today it's 1594.
It seems your perception doesn't reflect reality.
@kifaru Well it was how I 'felt' not a scientific study. ;)