Well, circling for me is breaking off from an ILS, flying downwind, starting the stopwatch abeam the threshold, turning base, then landing. Anything more complex (rare) is covered by a chart. It really isn't rocket science, unless the weather is poor (although, in my experience it's usually tailwind that causes it). If the weather is that poor, then you know the answer......
I wish everyone would stop making mountains out of molehills, and blaming the "circling approach". If you can't do one of them, or make the appropriate decision before, or during, then the problem is a little bit more fundamental, is it not?