Armor. Find a leather jacket, and try and pad every part of your body with something, simple leather gloves and boots would work. Combat boots and tactical gloves are better. If you can, find a single zombie and take it down to near death, put on as much clothes you can (over encumbered is fine) like blankets and shit and train dodge, trust me 3+ dodge and you’ll be able to handle yourself really well in melee.
I recommend getting dodge as high as you can. Go from zombies to tough zombies and beyond. Around 5 dodge and you’ll be able to take on brutes no problem.
Spears have reach attacks (Press F) so you can kite and kill enemies from afar. Useful for near death or weak characters with little health.
Level computers up and loot banks, if you have a stethoscope and good mechanics level you can get a RM13 combat armor suit with a little luck. Pretty good armor and resistances, full coverage. Even better when powered with plutonium cells
Also, your chest and head are pretty important. If the health bar goes to zero on those you die. Your limbs can be broken and still recover. So I recommend finding armor for your head and torso as a priority
Try and find a funnel and put something like a jerrycan under it for when it rains. That way you can get a decent amount of water.
Hunt or forage bushes for wild vegetables, either or finds a reliable amount of early food.
I got a pretty decent newbie guide, see if anything there helps: