@soup_reviews something I got from Test-Driven Development (TDD) is have something that shows you what the last problem was. It works kinda like a cliff hanger, I guess, in that it persists longer in your memory, but also it's something you can immediately start to do something about next time without having to recapture *all* of your past mental state.

I guess you work with music synths a lot? I know nothing about that, but maybe there's something like having some sample you run through your patches (right term?) that helps orient you? or maybe leave yourself detailed notes when you come to a stopping place