Always have a safety net aka spare food/gear/shelter/etc nearby. Even the best prepared viking can still have a moment of bad luck and die, so always have a Plan B in case you need to do a corpse run.

Even if that means just making sure you have a spare longship/karve (or the mats to make one) back at your respawn can save so much time and pain. Build outposts with some extra food so you won't have to do a corpse run on an empty stomach. Besides it's just always good to have a place nearby to drop off mats and repair before heading back out.

Especially in places like the swamps and mountains I find having little oasis(s) of food and a warm fire to take a breather is always welcome.