I use two main buttons in the 3rd main menu line:

New Posts - located in the middle
This lists all the new posts since the last time you visited.

My Profile - located at extreme left
Lists new posts to threads you have posted to yourself.

Another thing you may find helpful is located under My Profile, Edit Options, at the bottom of the page: it lets you de-select forums that appear in your "New Posts" list. I exclude Games when i dont feel like playing games. Be sure to hit save at the the bottom of that page to save your selected options.