As the season of Halloween and mid-terms come to an end, we are now faced with an awkward transition from colorful leaves and pumpkin spice to shivering nights and peppermint bark. Although Thanksgiving is still a few weeks away, the idea of the upcoming holiday season and winter break have already been flooding my mind. I can't help but get excited for the upcoming festivities as I continue to deal with my inordinate list of schoolwork. Even though mid-terms are over, finals are just around the corner and professors are piling on the workload to make sure that their students welcome the holiday season with an abundance of stress.

Regardless, this is my absolute favorite time of year and no amount of school-related pressure can dim my buzz. There's so much to look forward to that the hardships associated with college are minuscule in size compared to the greatness of the Christmas season. Every day the thought of winter break, a.k.a. a full month of no-school related complications, warms my brain and encourages me to stay motivated. There's a plethora of reasons as to why I'm excited for winter break and I'm prepared to endure the worst of what my professors are going to challenge me with and strive forward. In the end, it'll make winter break all the more satisfactory.

Below, I've narrowed down my winter break excitement to 4 reasonings:

1. No school/school-related work

Since winter break signifies a transition between semesters/new classes for most college students, that means that I won't be having to deal with any school related work. Assuming that the summertime will now be infested with summer classes, jobs and possible internships.... this upcoming winter break could very well be the last true "break" I have away from work. Therefore, I'm going to cherish every waking moment that I have away from "the stress."

2. Seeing friends/family.

One of the best parts about holiday break is seeing all of my friends and family members that I don't normally see during the school year. Whether it's people that either go to school/live far away or seeing friends that I only get to see on weekend trips at home, it's still refreshing to have a full month of being able to see them whenever and sync back into our old routines. I'm equally as eager to utilize all of our favorite hangout places and food spots.

3. Different lifestyle.

After re-adjusting to the dreadful dorm life, I'm super exhilarated to move back home... even if it's only for a month. This year, my dorm building is not my cup of tea, so the more time I spend away from it.... the better! Aside from that, I can finally eat home-cooked meals and steer clear of any dining hall monstrosities and the awful Chili's. Sleeping in my own bed, having a TV to watch (instead of watching shows the next day on my laptop) as well as showering in my own shower are other amenities you can add to this list.

4. The season of Christmas

The number one thing I'm super excited for is the season of Christmas. For those who celebrate, hopefully you can attest to my anticipation. Christmastime is my absolute favorite time of year. From the music and movies to the amazing foods, the overall concept and spirit to the holiday is utterly amazing. There's no time of year I look forward to or enjoy more than Christmas. Being stuck away at school doesn't exactly provide me with the "Christmas spirit" - I miss not having a tree or having a window to see any potential snow fall. I feel as if I'm yearning for Christmastime more than ever this year, and I can't believe that it's just around the corner.

Ultimately, there's still a lot I have to accomplish before I can completely unwind and embrace whatever the season of "winter break" has to offer. However, the suspense will encourage me to work harder than ever before in hopes of fully gratifying my month off from any inane obligations.