I remember talking to my mother the third week of university, and as she asked me if I had heard of such and such news story and horrifyingly realizing I knew nothing of what was going on in my own country, much less the world. Not only is it fun (okay, for me at least!) to read up on what’s going on, but for many disciplines, it’s a huge asset when it comes to applying the principles you learn in class!
Here are four ways I keep up with news:
1. Use Social Media!
Why not learn something useful while on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr? I have a few news outlets that I used to read regularly (Al Jazeera, BBC, etc.) that I “like” on Facebook. These news outlets post interesting or important news articles on their page. You can scroll past your news feed, like some photos while learning a little more about what’s going on! Twitter are great outlets for following these news outlets too! Those social media breaks became a lot more productive didn’t they? (Don’t use it as an excuse to procrastinate and make yourself feel better this exam season though!)
2. Gym radio
I love listening to a good power pop anthem as much as the next person during a good workout, but it’s nice to have some variety sometimes. Sometimes, the perfect complement to cardio is listening to the news on the radio. It’s a win-win situation – you’re getting fit and more knowledgeable. Double the productiveness!
3. The Daily Skimm
My email is my best-friend. Everything goes into my email. Payment confirmations? Check. Calendar notifications? Check. So it only seemed reasonable that I get my news emailed to me. TheSkimm is a website that compiles the day’s biggest headlines, summarizes and emails it to you. It’s absolutely perfect for the busy college student and easily became a part of my morning routine.
4. Weekly Check
I choose one website to check at the end of the week and read the headlines to see if there is anything I missed, and just to read for my own enjoyment. My website of choice tends to business-oriented to keep up with my coursework but it can be any news site of your choice!
It’s easy to become trapped in the campus bubble with all the activities going around on campus, but it’s good to branch out and find out about what’s going on in the larger community too! I hope these help you as much as it did me.