As mothers, it can be easy to feel totally disconnected from not only our pre-kid life, friends and extended family, but from the world and current events in general. Before we had children, we could take a few minutes in the morning or evening, or during our lunch break at work to read, watch or listen to the news, from global events to celebrity gossip. Now, we’re lucky to have a few seconds throughout the day, in between pickup, drop-off, on our commute or after the kids’ bedtime (but before our own bedtime…). The solution? Finding a few great news sources that collate the most important news in an easy to digest form—think of the list below as Cliffs Notes for news! Hope they help you feel up to date, and part of the conversation, fast.
Listen To A Succinct Podcast
Morning Announcements – A funny and irreverent rundown of the headlines in 5 minutes.
The Daily – New York Times’ daily podcast, they spend 30 minutes on a story that’s making headlines giving you a deeper understanding of current events.
NPR Podcasts – NPR Up First is a 5-minute podcast that’s released each morning covering the most important headlines of the day. If you want more frequent updates, NPR News Now is also 5 minutes long but is updated each hour.
Sign Up for Daily Emails
The Skimm – This popular daily newsletter has top headlines of the day from serious to fun stories.
The Morning Newsletter – This free email gives you the headlines and why they matter – no NYTimes subscription required.
Next Draft – Writer Dave Pell summarizes the biggest stories of the day with a more humorous take on news.
Find a Favorite Instagram Account
Choose your tried-and-true favorite news source and follow them on social for quick updates (Instagram, Tik Tk – whichever you like best). For political satire, check out Oh My World!, a YouTube show created by Hagar Chemali, a mom of three with who has worked as a foreign policy expert for the UN and White House.
This post originally appeared on The Local Moms Network.