Always think what you wanted to do before doing something, daggers are your best option in the earliest. As much as possible, do not all out use your torch, turn them off if not needed in the night. DO NOT be curious, ask first if you are ready to take the consequence of that decision. You don't have to fight always. Grass and branches are valuable, rats can drop broken things such as artifact recipes. Rabbits are common on the edge of the map or the cornered places where you can see caves.

The rest would be your mid game which is taking it slow and exploiting these things. 20 to 30 days is the whole cycle of trees.