I concur.
I'm getting my IR current again after a four-year VFR instructing stint and my advice to you is do it on the ground. Every time.
If however you are just going out for a beacon-bashing exercise, you can cope with a VOR fairly easily. Steer the track (so HDG=TK) and see which way the needle goes, then reintercept and set 5deg drift the appropriate way. If 5 doesn't work, reintercept and try 10deg etc. etc.
As for ADF tracking, well if I figure it out I'll let you know.
I do know that steering the track tells you which way you need to go to intercept, and watching the movement tells you how much drift to offset. As for the rest, it's all jiggery-pokery and black magic
(the technical term is 'judgement', but good judegement comes from making mistakes so we're all pretty stuffed really).
If you find a good ADF tracking method (for inflight use) can you please let me know?