gidday Scottie,
I have read all the replies, and every one has great advice. I have done my CPL and MECIR over here in the great land of Oz, and let me tell ya, the landscape doesn't offer much for positive fixing.
So here is my 2 cents.
1. LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE
2. USE YOUR WATCH
3. USE COMMON SENSE..!!!
Navigating directly below your bum is THE best way to get lost. STAY AHEAD OF THE AIRCRAFT. Pick your fix 5 miles ahead, mark it on your map, know what your calc is, then as you pass it, look at your watch and join the dots..!!
The other BIG, BIG problem is peoples necessity to know THE SPEC OF DIRT they are over. Remember scottie, if you are doing your PPL, you are probably in an aircraft that doesnt exceed 120 kts. As long as you know where you SHOULD be, at 120 kts, you shouldnt be too far away.
And for god's sake, the first things you should have been taught is to :
1. HOLD YOUR HEADING
2. NAVIGATE : WATCH TO MAP TO GROUND
Learnt those tips off an F111 driver, and those puppies go Mach 1+, a whole lot faster than your PPL mobile.