best way to edit pictures?

It's called "workflow". Normally, I begin by resizing. I don't resize down to photo print sizes but the photos out of the camera are large so I reduce their size to around 6X8 inches. If necessary, I use a Levels adjustment layer to tweak lighting and contrast. Do Enhance>Adjust Lighting>Shadows/Highlights if necessary. Do Hue/Saturation if necessary. If I'm using the image in any artsy project this is where I apply effects, etc. to the image and, lastly, Enhance>Unsharp Mask if needed. If my project requires multiple images, I do the basic tweaking on each of them individually before combining them.

Depending on the quality of the photos you take and upon how you want to use them, you'll develop your own workflow. After a short time, your workflow will become second nature to you. You'll just put it on automatic pilot and smoothly run through the steps.

Google "photoshop workflow" (without the quotes) for links to information.

I think you should just work out what works best for you. Most photographers probably edit in very different ways. I tend not to sharpen my pictures at all.

As much as possible, get it right in-camera. That way, you can lessen or even eliminate editing.

CS5