Very high field of view, a good headset so you can hear the location of cav, looking behind your back often, and assessing whether the current force you are with can handle a clash against upcoming enemies all help. Get the hang of surviving in battle and there is not as much wait time as you think.
Also, finally learned the trick to rolling. You don't input it right when you get hit, but at the moment when your whole body is on the ground. Seems a bit silly that one has to wait so long, but oh well. And it won't work unless I release all of my other inputs first.