Seeking a Deeper Connection: How do I make my daily practice feel more meaningful?

As-salamu alaykum, everyone. Over the past few months, I've been trying to practice more strictly, encouraged by my father. I want to strengthen my faith, but sometimes the daily routine feels a bit repetitive and the rules can seem vague, like they're missing the bigger point. My belief in Allah is strong, that's not the issue. What I mean is, with the five daily prayers, I do them and follow the proper form my father taught me. The goal is to feel connected to Allah, but honestly, I don't feel that connection during prayer. I end up focusing on whether my hands are in the right place or if I'm facing the right direction, even when I'm trying to focus my thoughts on Allah. I've learned the meanings of the words we say in Salah, but it still feels like I'm just reciting memorized lines. It hasn't changed the feeling for me. My father says he finds peace in his prayers, like a quiet break in his day, but he's never mentioned that deep spiritual connection either. For me, it sometimes feels more like the short mental break I get when I check my phone for a minute during a busy day-it's a pause, but not necessarily spiritual. And Wudu… I know it's about spiritual cleansing, but the process can feel very mechanical-washing your face and feet a few times and you're ready. Then something small happens and you have to start over from the beginning. Then there are the rules around food. As someone interested in the outdoors, I understand the wisdom behind prohibited animals, but it can be confusing sometimes. Things like certain processed foods that are technically permissible can contain ingredients harmful to health, while something like a natural flavoring with a minuscule amount of alcohol is not allowed. My parents are very careful to eat only halal meat, which is great, but when I ask about the animal's welfare-if it had a good life-they say the main concern is that it's halal. But doesn't the Quran also teach us to be kind to animals? It seems like the condition of the animal, whether on land or from the sea, isn't always part of the conversation if the food is technically permissible. Don't get me wrong, I am for Islam and it has brought good into my life. It's just that these small, everyday things-like being corrected on how I sit, where I place my hands, or forgetting to say 'Bismillah'-can start to feel overwhelming. It sometimes feels like there's so much focus on the small details. I've even had fleeting thoughts about stepping away, which I don't want. I see others who might major things wrong but are very strict about these smaller rules. How can I change my perspective and find the deeper meaning in these daily acts of worship? Any advice from your own experiences would be really appreciated. Jazakum Allahu khayran.