I listened to a lot of harmonica players and teachers throughout the day today. This guy Tomlin has a podcast and he got several players to offer advice for practicing. One guy talked about trains and gears. Chugging slowly at first gear then getting faster or more complex in higher gears. It works on licks, as well, or whole songs if I'm doing solo stuff.
Another idea was something I knew or thought of in another art.. comedy.. Basically, listen to others before trying the thing they're showing you or the thing I'm trying to figure out. Listening to myself, via recording every practice, was along the same line.. listen deeply.