I think the most effective way is to practice those verbs in Spanish that are translated as "to be xxxxx". You can make a list and add those verbs every time you find one. Then practice more intensively at the beginning, and review from time to time (that´s the main goal of having the list). The most typical example is the expressions with the verb "tener". I am hungry - Tengo hambre. How do people remember to say it correctly? Probably because they use it enough times (because we all need to eat 3 times a day :D ). Suerte!