Scan the first three paragraphs of the front-page stories of the newspaper -- and then move on. The gist of what happened is always summed up there. Read online? Skim the summaries following each story's headline for the most important details.
Subscribe to a major news outlet's online newsletter, like CNN's "AM QuickNews." In one e-mail, you'll get short briefs of the day's top stories and weather, and you can request stories on specific topics of interest. (Tip: Only sign up for one so you're not inundated with the same news from different sources.)
Set your alarm clock to a news radio station so you get the most out of those moments before you hit the snooze button. Wake up to crying instead of an alarm these days? Tune in when you're in your car.
Try to catch the first 15 minutes of a morning or evening TV newscast. The major networks begin their national morning broadcasts with a rundown of overnight breaking stories; the nightly newscasts lead with the day's top headlines.
Stash a weekly newsmagazine in your glove compartment. When you're stuck waiting at preschool pickup, you can get a more in-depth perspective of the week's big stories.
