I did my IMC about 2 weeks after getting the PPL through the post, after doing the whole lot in 5 days (the IMC I mean...no PPL, now that would be crazy!). But I found it quite easy going, but i must admit I have been flight sims since age 11! I really think you should try MSFS sometime. The handling may be different to the real thing but you can practice your panel scan to make it more efficient. A lot of the time people find they are concentrating too hard, or making it too difficult I.E - not trimming the aircraft out and letting it fly 'itself'. Concentrating too hard sometimes ahces your eyes, and also freezes your mind, and you end up looking at the same gauge for a long time and dozzing off! Then you end up not enjoying the instrument flying at all!
Along with the flying, there's the 'leens' you have to deal with (theoretically known as "Somatogyric and somatogravic" effects) ...basically becoming dis orientated. For example you may find yourself in an insidious left roll, only realising it when you look at your AI, which tells you you've got 15* of bank on the go, and then you correct it quickly, to which your cochlea reacts and now your balance tells you your in a turn to the right regardless of the fact your straight and level! Very frustrating during long periods of instrument flying...but trust the instruments! (I'm sure you've heard that one plenty of times!)
As far as the theory goes, you just need to know your priveleges and all about approach plates, and DH/MDA etc.
Like I say, get yourself on flight sim 2002 and do some practice, it's well worth it!