No.1952
How do I go about improving my navigation skills?
As it stands, I'm a complete idiot when it comes to the topography/geography of my area (I've been a shut-in my entire life, really). I don't know what the roads/highways are named, and I have a lot of trouble taking in my surroundings and remembering where I am. I'm also pretty foggy on the rules of the road, and how to navigate small, convoluted areas (cities). I've only driven in cities when my parents were with me feeding me directions at every intersection. Even in small towns, I just get lost because I never take in my surroundings. Driving in the country is worse, because everything just looks the same.
I have my license and my own car, but I have high anxiety about going places because of my extremely poor navigation skills coupled with little to no street smarts. Wat do?
No.1965
No.1966
>>1965Having used GPS for years now, I can tell you that frantically looking down at my phone to see when I should turn next does not help my navigation skills at all. The point of improving my navigation skills is so I can
stop depending on GPS to get me around.
No.1972
Start with walking, simply as that is. Go out, see things, enjoy the good weather (if you are lucky). Pay attention to road signs.
After a walk, take a map (off-line or on-line; for the latter I use osm.org) and try to find there places you have been. Eventually you'll become more familiar with it.
No advice for the car thingy, I have never driven anything in my life.
No.1974
A lot of study should be your first step. Memorize the local highways and major streets. Look at a map or GPS before you drive and get an idea of where you're going. Try to visualize it, especially landmarks (Street View it if it's an unfamiliar area). Rules of the road is also another thing to study. Your local DMV (probably online, too) should have a pamphlet detailing all the traffic laws.
Past that, it's just experience. When you drive enough, you'll think less about driving which opens up your brain to concentrate more on navigation. When you know more about your surroundings, you need to think less about familiar places and you can focus on the upcoming steps in your trip.
And turn the radio off until you're comfortable with where you're going.
No.2012
Personally I have an easy time remembering maps and general coordinates, so I always try to place myself in a mental map.
Let's say I need to get from point A to point B. A straight line would be the shortest route, but you need to follow the streets. So take a map and find the shortest route between the two points. Go to that point, and come back following that same route. Always return by the same route or by one you already know it's better to discover new paths when going instead of coming. Start by making small adjustments to your route, from small things like changing on which side of the road you are walking to turning a block early. If you get lost, retrace your steps. Soon you will have discovered all of the different possible routes between points A and B, and not only that but you will have familiarized yourself with all of that area.
Two things to memorize are large/important streets and the cardinal points. The streets are so that if you're ever lost you can ask to get to street X, and from there you should know how to get to where you want. Long streets tend to branch out into several useful smaller streets, and tend to be safer to walk. the cardinal points can be helpful if you understand them, but no one will know about them if you're asking for directions.
Implied is the fact that you shouldn't be ashamed to ask for directions.
This advice applies mostly to walking, as I drive very little, but I'm sure you can adapt it.
No.2013
OP the only thing to do is get the car and learn the roads.
You should also do it daily, expecially in the beginning.
Decide some places to go, put them on the map, and visit them. Try to do at least one hour of drive a day. Who cares if you get the road wrong or something like this?
You are on your own, nobody is judging you. This is the only way to learn how to drive, and the only way to get comfortable at least in your area.
Of course if you go outside your usual area you won't know the roads, since you never went. Nobody knows shit about going to place they never went, that's why maps exist and I can guarantee you would learn how to use them, and indications too, if you really had to.
So, just go out daily, expose yourself to this anxiety and that's it. This is the only way to solve it, and if you really think about it you are lucky because this problem can be solved with training.
Have fun.