The main thing for me was reading the Bible. I started reading entire chapters instead of the one verse usually quoted in the literature. I did not have a computer, it was late 1980ies that I started reading a lot on my own. I had a friend from childhood who was raised in it and had been disfellowshipped, then reinstated, and we both were researching Scripture. We would talk often and compare notes.
I went through 1975 too but not having a computer, and having little older literature I fell for the line; "1975 was a rumor and the truly faithful did not leave because of a rumour". I felt so self righteous to be counted at good and faithful for trying to stay in, embarrasing as it is to confess.