In case you missed it, I've paraphrased the tips here and added a few of my own. Timing is key.
Some people think best in the morning - others at night.
Schooling is important, but so are other forms of education. Supplement book learning with experience and mentorships or apprenticeships when possible. To improve your memory, write it down. The writing process adds focus, time, visualization and maybe even a bit of muscle memory. Research shows that the caffeine in one cup of coffee improves concentration, but also makes some people anxious or jittery.