Put the water in the bowl. If you re relying on a mug instead of a measuring cup, fill it full. Dry the cup so you can use it as you control for the flour measurements. Sprinkle the yeast over the top of the water. If you have honey in a squirt bottle, give it a squirt.
Yeast feeds on sugar, but most commercial yeast can do just fine without it.
Break up the yeast granules with the fork or spoon. The yeast should be foaming or beginning to foam. The effect is not dissimilar to that on a head of beer. Foaming yeast is growing yeast, and growing yeast will provide the gas that causes bread to rise. Salt helps strengthen the gluten in the flour.