Usually by the end of finals week I'm ready to sleep for 500 days and binge watch all my favorite Netflix shows (I still haven't watched the Gilmore Girls finale!!!!). But as fun as that sounds (and trust me, it sounds pretty darn fun to me), this break I want to something more. Here's 10 things I always talk about doing over break but never actually do. This year, that will change.

1. Read for fun.

When I was a kid, I read ALL THE TIME. Probably because I didn't have that many friends, and stories provided adventure for my soul. In college, I feel like I'm reading ALL THE TIME, and while much of it is interesting, there's something about having to do something that makes you really not want to do it. I have a giant list of books that I keep saying I'll get around to reading. This break, I'm actually going to do it.

2. Go to a coffee shop, and just drink my coffee.

During school season, I'm always envious of the friendly conversations and coffee dates going on while I sit there writing a paper. This break, I'm going to go to a coffee shop (either by myself or with a friend), sit there and enjoy my coffee. That's it.

3. Have real conversations with my family.

Sometimes when I go home, I'm so tired of being around people all semester that I just want to shut away in my room. But there is something so genuine, so important, so necessary about having REAL conversation with your family. Often I take them for granted, and forget that they had lives before I was even born. I even realize how little I know about them and how many cool stories they have!

4. Reach out to a friend I haven't seen in a while.

As I've entered my senior year of college, I realize how poorly I communicate with friends in different places. I look back at friendships I had in high school and realize how much I miss that one person, how much they've changed and how much I still long to learn from and love them. This break, I want to be bold and to reach out to that friend.

5. Go people watching.

Often times, I realize I'm people watching in the library, a cafe or our student center -when I'm supposed to be studying. This break, allow yourself the privilege to people watch. Don't be creepy about it or anything, but it can honestly be a hilarious past-time.

6. Take a walk

There's nothing that clears your mind better than a nice long walk. I like to use walks as an excuse to listen to new music or catch up on a good podcast. While you might feel like a middle-aged suburban mom, I promise it'll clear your head more than an episode of Gossip Girl.

7. Go to a local concert.

Find cheap tickets to the concert of a new band in your area, and check it out. Why not? You might be onto something before anyone else.

8. Play Monopoly.

But get really into it. One rainy day, my family and I played the most intense game of monopoly ever, and we couldn't stop laughing. Or revisit a game you played as a child, and see how it compares. If you need any other suggestions, my family's go-to's are "speed scrabble" and Catch Phrase.

9. If all else fails, try hulu.