Why can’t I ever get my server and front end to connect when booting up a project after the first time?

TLDR: Help...I’m not sure how to re open up a project...(MERN)

I’m in the process of learning node. I don’t have any problems getting the server to run and be connected with the front end when I am setting everything up.

But, when I go to it the next day, my server will be running on local host 5000 and my front end browser will show local host 3000...

Every time I open up the files do I need to install all my dependencies again?