-Start configuring at/by 15 miles out. Late configuration changes are a big cause of being behind the plane on visuals.
-You can put a 5 mile ring in the nav box on the piano keys of the landing runway, and then when you get there, use it to steer to final.
-stay off the rudders on final.
-the nav box probably has visual approaches in it for guidance only on finals. Beware though, they are advisory only.