Who needs more mundane updates about the world when your own life is stressful enough? Surely a dose of environmental disasters, pictures of one foreign leader shaking hands with another, and news of a Chinese robot mastering yet another task that makes you less valuable as a human being isn't going to lift your spirits at the start of the day.

However, keeping up with the news encompasses so much more than that. Here is why the news directly benefits you everyday.

IT HELPS YOUR GRADES

Keeping up with the news is the get out of jail free card when taking a course in almost any discipline (except math. Nothing can help you with math). In class discussions as well as in exams, you can draw on so many real world examples and incidents to amplify your responses, you can fill in most question seven if you don't remember the ones in your syllabus. Besides class discussions to impress your teacher, a good understanding of the real world helps you back up almost any claim you make when writing essays.

GIVES YOU MORE CONVERSATIONAL MATERIAL

For natural conversationalists, carrying on any conversation comes effortlessly, but for the rest of us, being aware of the news gives you things to talk about with people. This is true especially with people we don't know too well, at events and of course in professional settings. And by news you don't necessarily need to talk world politics – technology, business, arts, human rights, culture, the environment – take your pick.

IT'S NOT THAT HARD

Nobody has to read the entire newpaper. Simply scan through the main pages and see what catches your eye, stick to just a couple of pieces based on your interests. Follow as many credible news sites on Facebook as possible (Note: CREDIBLE!!). Keep up with the news comedy shows such as Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, The Daily Show, Real Time with Bill Maher or find one that matches your sense of humour. These shows are a tremendous blend of news and comedy and is good entertainment in its own right.

YOU FORM BETTER OPINIONS

We form our opinions on issues based on what our family and people around us think and on what we see in our immediate surroundings. Reading the news broadens our mindset quite a bit. You realise the problems people who live around the world have. You realise the historical relevance of things that are happenning in society today. You start connecting dots and sensing patterns. And most importantly, you realise which forces have how much power over you.

Reading the news may invoke flashes of scenes in 'Downton Abbey' where the help would receive the papers every morning, iron them out in their quarters to dry out the ink before taking it 'upstairs' to place at the breakfast table of the household. You can have the news for free online. Just read it.

Mrittika Anan Rahman is a daydreamer trying hard not to run into things while walking. Find her at anan_rahman7@yahoo.com