Struggling with the definite article endings—always using 'i' or 'u' incorrectly

I’m a grammar-focused learner trying to get my head around Albanian noun inflections, but I keep tripping up when I try to construct sentences in real-time. I understand the rules on paper, but I can't seem to make the gender-specific definite endings automatic. Has anyone found a mental shortcut for remembering when to use -i, -u, or -a for masculine/feminine nouns, or is it just rote memorization until it clicks?