6 SIGNS YOU ARE READY FOR WINTER BREAK

Last night I was talking to someone about school that said, "Have you ever had so much to do that you just take a nap?" Sometimes instead of deciding where to start, it's easier to avoid your responsibilities all together--that it is until it's the night before your 6 page essay is due, and so far you have taken a few minutes to think of a title and set up the perfect Spotify playlist for this weekend's festivities. Thanksgiving break is in sight, and everyone is itching to spend some time away from school work.

The worst part is that as soon as we get back from Thanksgiving break Winter break seems so close. There are just a few more classes and dreaded finals in between you and freedom. But the signs that you are in desperate need of this break are already appearing. Here are some of the things you might be experiencing: 

//ONE// You are reading this. If you are being honest with yourself, there are plenty of things you could be studying or readings you should actually be reading. But instead, you found yourself scanning social media, and looking for anything more exciting than studying the key differences between mitosis and meiosis.

//TWO// You spend more time on your "homework breaks" than actually doing homework. I've earned a quick peak at what's new on Twitter, right? I think I deserve a snack about now.

//THREE// You find any excuse not to do your assigned readings or other homework. Maybe I should actually take the time to read through the Terms and Conditions on iTunes right now. Kim Kardashian and Kanye on the rocks again? I better see what's going on this time. 

//FOUR// You are already making plans for what you are going to do (or not do) over winter break. If Friends comes on Netflix on January 1st, and I'm on the 4th season of Gilmore Girls, how many episodes per day do I need to watch to finish in time? That counts as studying math, right? 

//FIVE// Your motivation and productivity are quickly draining. Some days are better than others. One day with a cup of coffee and a little spark, you are ready to take on the world. And the next day nothing sounds better than staying inside and catching up with your favorite TV characters.

//SIX// You start doing things you wouldn't normally do to procrastinate. The other day I ran up to my roommate saying, "I'm not a Packers fan. I don't even like football. But this game is amazing." I don't know what came over me. Procrastination can take strange forms.

Sometimes after doing so much work there comes a point that you just need a break. In the case of a normal study period, a few minutes here and there is sufficient. But after a semester of cognitive overload, a month without homework or studying sounds glorious.

Don't worry, guys, break will be here before you know it. And when you're ringing in the new year, you won't even be thinking about all of the equations you had to solve or textbooks you plowed through. All you need to do is muster up the motivation to keep going for the next month or so, depending on when your break starts. It seems impossible at times, but think about all of time you will have without tests and papers to write. But for now, go be productive! You can do it. Ryan believes in you.

Are you ready for a break?