There are a lot (a lot) of related questions, but as far as I can tell they're all fairly low quality or hyper specific. There are also a lot of articles online about managing overheating but it's hard to tell if any are particularly reputable.
Right now my machine, a laptop running 20.04, seems to be freezing up fairly often and running hot to the touch.
The fan runs fairly loudly when it slows down. I am already cautious about keeping a book or board under it so that the vents aren't blocked even when it's actually on my lap (so it doesn't get buried in folds of blankets or anything).
What steps can I take to troubleshoot this issue?