In this TED Talk, Tim Harford tells a few excellent stories about how to inject a little mess when you are stuck on a problem. Here are some ways to inject that mess:
Reduce your attentional filter, let the noise in and let it mellow. It helps you think outside the box.
Invite a stranger into your conversation.
Play with some Oblique Strategies cards, these cards by Brian Eno was used to unblock musicians
"Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it isn't helping you."
Play the un-playable piano: introduce troublesome constraints to your situation so you have to innovate around it.
