Read and understand the basic gist. Get the manual, fiddle while looking at the manual i.e. look at the labelled diagram while actually feeling and visually acknowledging each part on the actual object.
When I started photography, I felt incredibly "out of control" just jumping in. I wanted to know the basics of how a camera operates. I also researched how light works, basic composition, basically hoarding information. Then I started experimenting with lighting, exposure, different cameras etc. I was pretty much like this with musical instruments and other devices (except my phone... I don't really care to use the additional gadgets, I only need to use it to call and for gps, that's it). Usually I can't understand how to use something properly, unless I know how it works.