You'll be one click away from the things you do frequently if you add
them to the Quick Access Toolbar (for any command that's on the Ribbon
somewhere, right-click on it; for commands you can't find on the
Ribbon, right-click on the QAT and choose Customize, then All Commands
from the dropdown. Sometimes you have to guess about the name MS has
given to the command you're looking for in that list.)
And while you're in Customize, you can arrange the buttons on the QAT
in whatever order seems most convenient.
To hide the Ribbon almost completely, double-click on any of its tabs.
Then single-clicking any tab brings it back for the moment, double-
clicking brings it back to stay.
Position your QAT below the Ribbon for shorter mouse-travel.
And, of course, all the keyboard shortcuts you used to use still work
the same.