I would tell myself to thoughtfully consider what concepts the techniques I'm learning are demonstrating. Like with cooking, you can certainly follow a good recipe and have satisfactory results. However, its nice when you understand what the ingredients are meant to do for the dish so that making modifications based on your resources is easier. 

I will sometimes practice on my partner at home! Or just work on visualizing certain positions I struggle with. Recording myself and picking apart things I could have done better also keeps my mind engaged. 

I'm excited to work on double leg takedowns with the teens! It will be another great addition to their arsenal of techniques in getting their partner to the ground. 

Probably some kind of armlock or wrist lock 

I have been a victim of the wristlock as well... Thanks to Regis lol

Lately, I am usually aiming to get to top control. Doesn't always workout but I feel like I am learning a lot about all of the transitional positions on the way.

I think having a lot of trust in my training partners allows me not to panic. Talking to my partner about a position I have a lot of difficulty with is a big help too. In the past couple days I have been working on mount escapes with some larger gents. I know it's not going to be easy, so I ask them to let me work on thinking my way through the escape, and giving me technical challenges rather than just smashing me.