[I would cover my nose and blow]. Right idea but technique is important. You don't want to BLOW, you want to 'PUFF'. Be gentle. If you have to blow....hard, you are potentially going to over pressurize when it does equalize. THAT can cause just as much damage.
LOOK UP - too many people look down which pinches off the Eustachian canal and significantly increased equalization difficulty.
Tilt the 'problem ear' UP. One ear is always a bit more of a problem. This stretches the Eustachian canal more and further helps.
Equalize 'early and often'. If you go more than 2 feet, that right, 2 feet from the surface without equalizing, down to ~20 feet you are pushing it. From there you can back off a bit, but, equalize at the merest hint of pressure buildup.
If you can't equalize easily, ascend a bit until you can. DO NOT EVER force it.
Practice out of the water. Technique is the same. Newer divers tend to get task loaded. This has to be an automatic and easily performed task.