Do a backup, using either Time Machine or a cloning program, to ensure files/data can be recovered. Two backups are better than one.
Try a restart.
Run Disk Utility/Repair Permissions. Run until it reports no errors. If there is a recurring error, see the article on what permission errors can be ignored.
Disk Utility
Disk Utility Repair Permissions You Can Safely Ignore
Try setting up another admin user account to see if the same problem continues. If Back-to-My Mac is selected in System Preferences, the Guest account will not work. The intent is to see if it is specific to one account or a system wide problem. This account can be deleted later.
Isolating an issue by using another user account
If the problem is still there, try booting into the Safe Mode. Shut down the computer and then power it back up. Immediately after hearing the startup chime, hold down the shift key and continue to hold it until the gray Apple icon and a progress bar appear. The boot up is significantly slower than normal. This will reset some caches, forces a directory check, and disables all startup and login items, among other things. If the system operates normally, there may be 3rd party applications which are causing a problem. Try deleting/disabling the third party applications after a restart. For each disable/delete, you will need to restart if you don't do them all at once.
Safe Mode
Safe Mode - About
Restart the computer holding down the command - option/alt - P - R keys before the grey screen appears. Continue to hold until you hear the startup chime for the second time.
Reset NVRAM/PRAM
Try an SMC reset. The article covers when this is required, but doing this will not affect anything.
Reset SMC
General information.
Isolating issues in Mac OS X
Troubleshooting Permission Issues
Step by Step to Fix Your Mac
