In case you are on your own, not participating any aurora tour, your first tasks will be to find a good viewing spot with two main goals: a wide view and little to no light pollution. If you stay in a cabin away from a village you will not have to worry about light pollution. Find a lake or a field where you have a good, wide view. In case you are right in a village where are a lot of street lamps, I suggest you use the daytime to look for potential spots. In winter, frozen lakes are an excellent. Artifical light like street lamps have two effects. When you are close to them, you will not see as much of the aurora. They are also often the reason for orange snow or clouds in photos.
When auroras suddenly appear you want to be ready knowing where to go. It is also possible to use an online map service already before your trip.
For me personally, I enjoy exploring the areas and finding new spots. That is only when I am alone out there. The locations during my workshops and tours, I know well.