It is no secret that we all count down the days until we can leave for Winter Break. As the stress of finals and finishing up the semester become apparent, we can't help but dream about all of the exciting events we will have planned once we arrive home. However, once we get there, we realize there were many things we forgot to take into consideration before. Many of our friends are away on expensive vacations, we've forgotten how to pay for food without our meal plan, and we have more free time than we originally anticipated, leaving us feeling lonely. Therefore, binge watching TV becomes the new reality in order to save us from absolute boredom.

Here are some of my favorite shows that I can guarantee will keep you occupied while you realize the reality of your winter break (and they're all currently on Netflix).

How I Met Your Mother

I recently finished the series, and I wish I could start the entire show over again. Not only did it bring me to tears (the best and the worst kind) multiple times, but it also happens to have an incredibly shocking ending. How I Met Your Mother is a sitcom that revolves around Ted Mosby, a man who is telling the story of how he met his wife to his two children. As we watch the show, we realize that he is not only a hopeless romantic but is surrounded by a hysterical, special group of friends who help him get through his life challenges. From the first episode you're hooked- I can guarantee it.

Law and Order: Special Victims Unit

SVU is the perfect show to watch over break because every episode follows a different plot line, but you can still watch the characters develop throughout each season that you watch. Therefore, you're always left hanging wanting more, but you can feel satisfied after each episode finishes. The show mainly revolves around Detective and eventually Lieutenant, Olivia Benson, who works with her squad in New York City to help aid victims of sex crimes, trafficking, and felonies involving young children.

Gossip Girl

Not only is Gossip Girl my favorite show of all time, but it is one of those shows that you can finish and then watch again and feel the same emotions and suspense you felt the first time you had. Gossip Girl centers around a group of elite students in New York City whose lives revolve around the anonymous "Gossip Girl," who broadcasts their most scandalous secrets to society. The viewer only finds out the identity of Gossip Girl in the very last episode of the series. Similar to Pretty Little Liars, the show is dramatic and filled with unexpected turns.

Parks and Recreation and/or The Office

Both Parks and Recreation and The Office appear as if they are filmed with a single camera, and in both shows, the characters speak directly to the viewer about their experiences, emotions, and concerns. Both shows are perfect because the casts work together so well. No matter which show you decide on starting first, you will absolutely have a desire to begin the other one when you finish.

Friends

Friends is a classic for a reason. The sitcom follows a group of friends living in New York City during the 1990's. Each character has distinct character traits, making the show full of unexpected laughs, surprises, and romances.

Orange is the New Black

When a friend of mine told me to start watching Orange is the New Black, I originally had absolutely no desire to even try. However, once I was pushed into watching the first season, I have not had one regret since. The comedic show follows a woman named Piper Chapman who is sentenced to prison after the authorities find out about a crime she committed many years ago. While the experience she has with the women at the prison is often filled with crude humor and scandalous scenes, the show exhibits a deeper message when we learn about many of the prisoner's backstories and how they deep down, want to better themselves.

Family Guy

Yes, I'll admit it, I'm an avid Family Guy viewer when I'm in need of a smile. Family Guy is hysterical and a perfect watch for when you're sick, having a bad day, or just need to laugh. While many of the shows that I watch have continuous storylines, it is sometimes nice to watch something lighter and less dramatic.