The first rule of thumb:

If you’re stuck for over an hour, seek help.

with

When you seek advice, first write down everything you’ve tried.

that as 3 benefits:

1. act as a rubber duck debugging
2. evidence that there is some kind of structured thought process that has been carried out, and what it was
3. saving time explaining the context to someone else

If this is not useful enough, the author recommends to use his formula.