1) Open up any parentheses if there are any
2) Combine like terms (moving the variable to one side and other numbers to the other)
3) solve using pemdas/bedmas and any additional steps you need to isolate the variable
4) if x turns out negative, invert the sign
Example:
2x+5=3(x+1)
Open up the parentheses by multiplying it by 3
2x+5=3x+3
Combine like terms
2x-3x=3-5
-x=-2
x=2
I hope this helps!