The first thing I did in my effort to be more politically active was to find some high-quality sources for the news. In an age of clickbait and sensationalized headlines, finding a solid source for news makes a big difference. In particular, I decided I needed to consciously learn more about what's happening in my state (even though most news coverage is about the national level). I got familiar with a local newspaper, and even took the plunge and subscribed for $15/month. I'm learning a lot from the coverage, and I also feel good about supporting a local news organisation when they so often struggle.
National coverage still matters too, so I wanted to make sure I was getting high-quality information for that as well. I found out the library card from my local library allows me full access to the New York Times online. I've also started using websites like PolitiFact and FactCheck which look into news stories, quotes from politicians, internet rumours, and more, evaluating how truthful they are.
Taking some time to figure out high-quality news sources, as well as ways to evaluate what you're hearing, is a great first step to becoming more politically active.