For me...........
1. always pick unique points (lakes are good)
2. make best use of railway lines they are easy to spot on the map
3. look for the next place you are going to - not what you are overhead
4. 6 minute marks on maps work for me too
5. talk yourself along the route - and tell the instructor where you are going next
6. make sure the gyro is aligned with the compass and trust it implicitly
7. If you are unsure of your position (not lost
) then call up 121.5 and request 'training fix, training fix, training fix' - they will give you yopur position to within a mile or so.............
8. Don't be scared to use your aircraft Navaids - VOR and ADF can be really useful aids to your tracking
9. Work to approximates (ETA within a minute or so, headings use nearest 5 degrees and correct it - over short distances it does not impact that much)
Hope these help
Arc