Keeping New Vocabulary From Slipping Away

I’ve been struggling lately with that 'here today, gone tomorrow' feeling. Last week, I read a beautiful article about a woman’s journey through early motherhood and a big move across the country, but even though I looked up the tricky words, they didn't stick! It feels like I need a better way to track them. Does anyone have tips for creating little mental stories or real-life connections to help new words find a pe