The word affect is usually a verb meaning to influence. For example, The bad weather affected their travel plans.
The word effect is usually a noun meaning result. For example, The storm had an effect on the number of travelers.
A simple way to remember is that affect is action (a verb) and effect is the end result (a noun).
You can also think of the a in affect linking it to action/verb. The e in effect links it to the end result or consequence (a noun).
With consistent, mindful practice, remembering the main uses of these two commonly confused words becomes more intuitive. Simply recognize affect as the action or influence, while effect is the outcome.