Rendering taking forever!

What are the complete computer specs, including hard drives (how many, what kind, what is on each, what capacity, and how full)?

If NVIDIA graphics, make sure to use the latest Studio Driver from NVIDIA (NOT the Game Driver).

Indeed, we'd need to know what your hardware is like. Also, what kind of media are you using. Phone footage is nice and small but really hard to edit with, as it seems you are experiencing.

You can use the free MediaInfo program to get info on your clips. Get the program from the link below and using the 'Tree' view post a screenshot of your clip info: https://mediaarea.net/en/MediaInfo/Download

@Rebecca29935148vdk5 

Have you had a chance to review the Hardware recommendations for Premiere Pro and After Effects?

Having sufficient RAM and fast storage media is important along with having a fast processor.  Also, choice in file format for source footage, editing and export will affect editing performance and render time as well.  See Smart Rendering for formats that support faster editing.

Something to keep in mind about processors:  an i3 Intel or Ryzen 3 might run Premiere Pro and allow for project to be completed, but they're not going to do so quickly.  For good and fast performance, we'd want to be running Premiere Pro with an i7, Ryzen 7 or M1.  For excellent peformance, we'd want to be running it with someting in keeping with an i9, Rysen 9, or M1 Max. 

Figuring out what's the right balance of how much to spend on hardware based on how quickly we want/need to export creative content is a challenge.