
While you are scouting, look for sources of Gears, grab as many as you can. It will delay the spoilage of your food, as well as your Mushrooms, which are equally important, it also stores your Ice indefinitely.
Getting an Ice Box is a high priority. Do not have any mercy on Spiders however, because you need the Silk, Cooked Monster Meat doesn't spoil fast and can be used in Crock Pot recipes, and Spiders respawn fairly quickly. Leave Koalefants and other animals alive until you need them. Leave Berries on their bushes and Carrots on the ground for emergencies, because they will not spoil unless picked up. Food spoilage cannot be afforded, therefore, try not to grab more than you need and avoid quickly spoiling foods unless you will eat them immediately. You don't need to get an Alchemy Engine in order to craft tier II science recipes, so you might need a little less Gold Nuggets, Logs, and Rocks - instead you can save them in order to craft other things, such as a Lightning Rod and/or additional Chests. Since Wickerbottom can craft all Science Machine recipes, you can get yourself a Shovel and dig up Berry Bushes, Grass Tufts and Saplings in the first days, allowing you to make a nice camp quicker, as well as saving time by not doing it sooner rather than later. If there are, consider building your base near the Sink Hole (some distance away, because Batilisks spawn from it). Before making a base, consider opening Sink Holes to have a look in the caves and see if there are any green or blue Mushtree Forests nearby.
Additionally, Mushrooms (Green and Blue) are a nice source of Sanity. Spider dens are a nice source of silk, which can be used to craft clothing that restores sanity. Since you cannot sleep, you need a source of sanity other than a Tent.But consider that you won't have access to the sanity boost triggered by first prototyping, so you might think of another way to gain sanity. Already being able to craft Science Machine recipes, you have early access to many nice things such as a Backpack, allowing you to gather more things while exploring in the first days.
You already have access to all Science Machine recipes, this allows you to delay settling and roam around for a little longer. When settling somewhere you should think about your sanity sources and food management. Cannot sleep ( Tent, Straw Roll, Fur Roll, Siesta Lean-to).Can prototype all Alchemy Engine recipes with a Science Machine.Can craft all Science Machine recipes even without one nearby.