Write down stuff with _paper_. Seriously, when you write down stuff you read/hear you're making your brain process the same information several times (reading/

Write down stuff with _paper_. Seriously, when you write down stuff you read/hear you're making your brain process the same information several times (reading/hearing, understanding, rephrasing, converting that info to letters, hand movement to write that letters, understandig). This helps retention a lot, plus you'll have notes that you can refer later. Don't use a computer to keep notes: keyboard punching needs far less neurons than handwriting and retention is less effective. I think there is some research about that, btw.