To describe your problems to a rubber-
duck or other inanimate object. Common in software development, the act of describing your problem (as to a mailing list, friend, or a rubber
duck on top of your monitor) often leads to finding the solution just a few moments later. In the mailing list case, rubber
ducking would then be to mail the list again saying "
Ok, that was dumb, but now I'm stuck on the part where...", then to discover THAT solution immediately after hitting SEND. Repeat, ad lib, fade.