Midterm elections are approaching and sadly to say many college students are have little to no clue about who is running and what major issues are up for vote. While on campus it can be hard to stay informed on what is going on in the world around you, here are five easy ways to stay informed so that when elections roll around you can easily make an educated decision. 

1. Read theSkimm. 

TheSkimm is a daily newsletter that bring important national and international news straight to you. On the website it claims: " [theSkimm] gives you everything you need to start your day. We do the reading for you - across subject lines and party lines - and break it down with fresh editorial content." After using theSkimm loyally for a year, I can honestly say that is exactly what it does. This is a great tool for busy college students because it provides you with easy to understand information on all of the major political and social issues. 

2. Check out Buzzfeed News every once in a while. 

While Buzzfeed is not the most obvious choice for political news, the site does a good job of providing readers with in-depth information on the latest news stories. So next time you are trying to waste time on Buzzfeed, take a break from the animal videos and check out one of their informative articles. 

3. Read a newspaper. 

You read that right. When trying to stay informed it is always a good idea to read the newspaper. While in college it can be hard to get your hands on the latest copy of The New York Times, most news outlets allow users to purchase online subscriptions. This means that you can get the latest edition of your favorite newspaper sent to your iPad, Kindle, or Nook. This makes reading the newspaper easier than ever before. 

4. Follow a new Twitter account. 

You already spend countless hours scrolling through Twitter. You not use that time for something a little more productive. Most major news outlets have a Twitter account meaning that you can now receive major news headlines in 140 characters or less. 

5. Turn on the TV. 

Yes, I am giving you permission to set down and watch TV. As college students we already spend plenty of time watching the TV. But instead of watching mindless reality TV, use that 30 minute break to watch your local news. This ensure that you stay up to date on national and local current events. 

As the world's next great leaders it is our job to make the world a better place. In order to do that we have to stay informed on what is actually happening. Hopefully, these tips help you stay in the know so that you can make educated decisions in the upcoming elections.