Another good strategy to use, is that of repetition. In other words, repeating something over and over. If you're having trouble memorizing, say, the name of a spell or a specific date, it's a good idea to repeat it over and over in your head. This helps the information stick in your head, plus the more you say it the more familiar it gets. That way, you'll be able to remember it without even thinking. This strategy is good if you don't want to pause reading to write down a note, or spend extra time studying.