Increasing speed of learning facts

Just being a lateral thinker is not enough. We need many concrete facts and experiences to give our ideas/connections credibility in the real world.

Often, my ideas and pattern recognition can be limited by lack of knowledge. Especially in areas where isolated facts have to be learnt.

DO you have any tips/systems on how to increase your uptake of facts? I can learn a lot but storing and categorising them in my head long-term, and consciously rather than intuitively recalling them is harder. Information isn't always presented conceptually or in a logical manner. And that's where I struggle to retain info.

I tend to remember the general impressions of things. How do we become a bit more concrete or will Se as we age give us that ability?