So, I've finally started in earnest, and have been playing by my gut, but I couldn't help but take a peak at the walkthrough, and it looks like I've been doing things wrong.

I simply followed the leads as they came up, and never encountered anyone who needed burying, nor did I encounter anything in the way of a "power cache". After I talked to Big Vlad, I simply followed the creature that led me to Young Vlad, and didn't kill the butcher, and learned that Simon was killed by the disease. I talked to Rubin, then George, and am now left with 12 more hours in the day, some consumed medicine because I didn't quite get that my health restored normally, and no leads.

Should I restart and try again? Having taken the quest from Vlad intsead of Eve, I didn't get anything in the way of a reward.

Some events are optional.

Usually if you hit a brick wall, the game will promptly tell you by the end of the day

You won't always get a reward. In fact, sometimes the 'completion' of a task involves defeat.

Check your journal. Completed tasks will have a double-asterisk (**) next to them.

As for the "burying" quest did you talk to Julia? She has a lot to tell on day 1.

The health-restoring medicine: sleep on it) There are also bandages restoring health without sleeping, but you have to do some trashbin-searching to get them for free.

Also a good general tip: Make sure you've eaten enough before you sleep! Otherwise you might die of hunger in your bed!

Just trade bottles of water for bandages. a lot easier

Yeah, those drunk guys are your hook up! Intoxicated people always carry bandages (but never water)

...or tvyrine. They've just downed the last drop before talking to you) only bandages left.

Yeah, I realized now that I'd completed the day quest. I think I'll restart anyway, though. I've got a better understanding of the gameplay, and as I understand it, I'm going to need all the resources I can get from the first day. Heck, I didn't even get how combat worked until later.