Answer:
Use a mnemonic, a series of words designed to remember the elements' symbol, in order.
I used this (starting from Barium in group2)
Ba rry La cks Ce rtain Pr izes. Nu (u)d ist PM Sm iles E(nth) u siatically. G(or)d on Tb lisi Dy es Ho lly Er mine. T(i)m Y(a)b bas Lu vs H(al)f Ta r W ay.
Sounds nonsense, I know. but it did stick and I still remember it 30 years later. Try creating your own mnemonic, it will probably be more memorable to you.