Just hardrock everything even before playing a map for the first time. Leaving the background in also helps to help your vision and reflexes. I still do that a lot, though for me it's usually double time, i don't hardrock things that much, and i still suck at AR 10 anyways.
If AR 10 is way too fast for you, which it was for me months ago, you could just double time somewhat slow songs with AR 8. The approach rate is approximately AR 9.5. It's in between 9 and 10, or at least that's what it seems like when I play double time.
Probably better to just go all out and just play AR 11 things lulz.
Final point: there's no easy way, or easier way, just go play maps with HR or double time or both.
edit: oh and on a side note, when i couldn't read AR 10 at all, I thought that the only way possible was if I was just staring at the center of the screen so I could see everything that was happening. This became a really stupid idea to be honest as I later realized (at least for me). You don't really need to do that; it's really all about reflex.