Start the project as early as possible. Start the mechanical design as early as possible.
Pin map or schematics should always be up to date. This saves a lot of time when debugging.
Be open to simplifying the project, don't be afraid to cut complexity as needed for efficiency/functionality.
Before ordering components online, it is better to confirm if any can be replaced by the components provided by Room 36 or SPDL.
Do the PRL safety training early to use the 3D printers and laser cutters. Also, get safety draining done for Lab64.
Don't underestimate the difficulty of integration and testing. Perform modular testing and have accessible electronics for debugging.
Be careful while putting all your electronics inside your designed casing/body. Loose connections are often really hard to find and fix. Keep in mind all sources of noise that can creep into your circuit.
Ensure good project management, including planning, good code writing, and the use of Sourcetree.
Encoder ticks can cause issues. Test often and check Tera Term.
Most problems with programming the PICs can be solved by restarting MPLABX.