Hi Brother...
Same for me...memorization work NEVER came easy for me and I am also working towards my next step in the journey. My mentor is discussing my 2nd degree for sometime in March, but I'm not too concerned. The way I approached the memorization is the same way my Dad helped me memorize the 50 states and their capitals when I was in grade school (true story!)
50 states - 50 days. One state/capital per day. Repeat 10x per day.
Day 1: Colorado/Denver (x10)
Day 2: Colorado/Denver + New Mexico/Santa Fe (x10)
Day 3: Colorado/Denver + New Mexico/Santa Fe + Montana/Helena (x10)
etc.
You can modify this as needed for your EA proficiency - but replace states/capitals with the content needed to be learned .
Make it fun...not challenging. The journey is a lifetime. If you are driving...then build on your memorization work a bit at a time...and repeat (privately in your mind) as often as you can during the day. This way you need not bring any materials with you...simply memorize each bit and build your foundation sentence by sentence (stone by stone). You'll find that within 2 weeks, you will start 'glossing over' the earlier content as you review it in your mind since you are already so familiar with it - it simply cannot be forgotten.
In this way - you can plan very clearly when you will be 'completed' with the memorization work. Another thing - the more you become familiar with the content, the more enlightening it will become. I can't help but continually be reminded of my first degree and what an incredible experience it was...always makes me smile. =-)
Enjoy the trip - don't sweat the time it takes to learn it. You'll find it is easier to learn this way - and it allows you to 'build over time' the content for your proficiency. By the time you are ready to do it, it will be like breathing.
Good luck! I know you will do great.
Julian
(Currently EA, Entered 12/15/2017)