Try solving riddles, mathematical problems, etc. That might help to get you into the right frame of mind. Don't shoot fish in a barrel, try to think about a problem at first. What is the problem, what are you trying to solve? Now, think of the approaches to solving it. How do you get the answer? Then fool around, and twiddle with things until it works. Try to separate problems into types of problems, each type requiring a certain type of solution, and fit you problem into these lists. Just my two cents.