I've spent hours looking at simple statics problems that I know I should be able to solve in fifteen minutes, but just can't for whatever reason. It's like I've

I've spent hours looking at simple statics problems that I know I should be able to solve in fifteen minutes, but just can't for whatever reason. It's like I've gotten on the wrong mental track early on and can only move further along that track or backwards. I'll give up for the moment to go eat or see some friends or just make contact with the outside world for an hour or so and during that time, the answer presents itself without much effort. I can then come back and redo the problem within 20 minutes. I wonder, though, if these epiphanies could have happened without the hour long struggle preceding it. Leaving a problem, it feels as if my mind is untangling itself and organizing this mess of thoughts. What I would really like to see some research on is the mental barrier between myself and starting the work in the first place. I'm looking at it right now... :|