In anything that requires motor skills - like playing a guitar - it is important to develop muscle memory. And the only way I know how to do that is to practice scales and drills. i know boring. But you can make some interesting music and riffs doing it.
This past week I have been working on the "droning thumb." Keeping the thumb hitting the baselines and not stopping. Getting this pattern down so I don't have to "think" about it will allow me to do cool stuff with the slide and just picking in general.
This is what I am working on. I am using open E tuning so i don't have to fret. You can do the same thing in standard tuning if you just fret an E major chord. Go to The Campfire and scoll down to the videos.