If you’ve looked everywhere for answers and feel stuck, try asking a friend or family member for help—a second pair of eyes can often spot what you’ve been staring at too long to see.

Describing out loud what you’re trying to accomplish, what you’ve tried, and what’s happened so far is often enough to give you the insight you need to fix the problem. If you don’t have a supportive human handy, describe the problem to your pet, your laptop, your cup of coffee… it doesn’t matter if they don’t answer—the important thing is that you clearly and precisely describe the situation and your actions, step by step.

Don’t dwell on the possible consequences of not doing whatever it is you’re trying to do—stay focused on the task at hand. If you’re stressed, take a few minutes to clear and calm your thoughts, so that there’s mental space and quiet for that crucial detail that you saw but aren’t remembering to come to the front of your thoughts.