The issue a great number of pilots have, especially when they are just starting out is funding. Many early pilots remain on the ground for extended periods simply because of the cost of flight. This causes fresh pilots to quickly lose the skill they had just learned.
Operation of an aircraft is certainly a perishable skill, which can deteriorate even after as little as a couple of weeks on the ground. So finding a way to maintain those skills is crucial. One highly inexpensive technique is chair-flying. This is the make believe equivalent of flying, where the pilot uses their mind's eye to place themselves in the cockpit and then fly through an imaginary flight. For very new pilots, a poster of the cockpit helps significantly. I myself have a C172 glass cockpit poster up on my wall to help me transition from steam gauges. For those who spend a fair amount of time in controlled airspace, partner up with a friend and practice radio calls, even if they aren't a pilot. A good rule of thumb is if you can teach it, you know it, meaning that if you are able to explain flight maneuvers and communications you can reasonably assume you know them.
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Photo used under Creative Commons from C. P. Ewing