LIVING WITH THE TRUTH BOX (metronome)
Let's face it, no matter how advanced you are, you can benefit from regular practice with a metronome. Spend time away from it and bad habits will start to creep into your playing (see also "Truth Box #1: the Metronome" for suggestions on what to look for in a metronome).
If you have a tape recorder and a volume control on your metronome, you can create a practice tape for yourself to check for rhythmic accuracy. Record the metronome click as a "countoff" to the music. Then, without turning the metronome off, bring the volume down at times so that not every click is audible. You may want to bring the volume up for certain strategically placed clicks or just every few bars. After you have taped the metronome, try practicing along with the tape. Because you can't hear every click, you must rely on your internal sense of time to remain steady. The occasional clicks on the tape let you know if you have kept steady time.
FINDING RHYTHMIC "COUSINS"
If you are having difficulty with a rhythm, you may want to search for a similar but easier version of the same rhythm. I refer to this other rhythm as a "rhythmic cousin". For example, you may remove the ties from a difficult rhythm to create a slightly easier version. Once you have mastered this easier "cousin," return to the original rhythm. As you perform the original rhythm, keep the sound of the rhythmic cousin clear in your mind.