This is a beginner's guide to Project Zomboid, and hopefully it will help you to push through what can be a difficult barrier to entry. There are a lot of things you can do on Day 1, but not a lot of things that you 'need' to do. This guide focuses on the goal of getting your character to wake up on Day 2 without being zombie food.
This guide places a high emphasis on keeping your Moodles down, and picking the time and place of your fights well, while largely eschewing a stealth approach.
Update: Playing with lightswitches at night no longer attracts zombies. Create your own rave if you want.