Yes, ease it off. Use lower gears to climb. Keep your climbing cadence near 80. If you have to work hard to keep up cadence in your lowest gear, think about buying a cassette with bigger cogs. I think it's relatively important to ride more easily and more frequently early in the season for experienced riders, and even more so when just starting out. If you can't ride 5 days/week, you're going too hard. Ease off. Next year, think about a more structured approach. This year just ride often and ride for fun, not for strength and stamina. If anything, ride for distance. Distance makes you strong, even if you go easy. You can keep track of your weekly distance and gradually try to increase it. Try to ride to places you haven't seen in a car.