1. Interest (more interest [authentic, not self-imposed] the more there will be energy for attention)
2. Attention (absorption)
3. Visualization (instead of “trying” to remember the information solely verbally, remember the exact moment or scene when the new information was observed; this in itself is a clear mental image that can be recalled easily)
4. Simplification (breaking the info down into 3 or 5 parts; recording key and concise info, condensing it)
5. Association (relating info to previous or relevant info in order to build an easy bridge to access/recall the newly learned material)

When learning, especially from a textbook, don’t fixate on “absorbing” all the information, the brain will filter out most of it inevitably. Instead, skim through the info and track key parts or details that highlights what is being learned essentially.