OK. This is what I would suggest. Try connecting right before you go to sleep. Lie down and take deep breaths... just until you feel significantly calmer.
Prepare yourself as if you were facing a friend or family member; imagine that you need to get certain things off your chest, and that you're about to let this person know in the clearest way possible. After you let them know what you're wanting to talk about, it's their time to speak and your time to listen (never the two things at once.) The best way I can think of to explain it is... you must get to a point of surrender.
The answer may come in a vision, a voice, a dream, etc. It is also very common for the answer to come through feelings. If you feel a sense of peace, if you feel as if clouds have parted inside of yourself, that is your answer. What I'm trying to say is... sometimes the answers aren't instantaneously processed by the waking mind. And so the answers come, and you feel them, but it takes a little time or some details to come into effect for us to understand them. The most important thing is to surrender, to trust.
Back to my suggestions: try it before you go to sleep; this might allow the answers to be more tangible because you are in a vulnerable state. Another BIG thing is, connect with your guardian Angel
before you try connecting with the guides. I would also suggest that the first guide you attempt to communicate with be your Master guide. But always first, your guardian angels, especially in the beginning stages. I say this because you want to make sure that you're connecting with your guides, and not random spirits posing as guides. Ask your Guardian Angel to guard the gates of communication with the spirit realm; to let nothing reach you that is of ill- influence, etc.
Overall, I gotta say... connecting with the angels is so beautiful. I wholeheartedly recommend it. Guardian Angels, Archangel Michael

They're the best. <3 Get a feel for their energy. They can help you with anything that goes on in your life (including connecting with your guides... if that is your wish.)
Many blessings on you. May angel lights fill your life.