I know, I know. Nothing about the words "snow day" strike dread in a typical college student. The opportunity to turn off the alarm clock and turn on Netflix is tantalizing to the sleep deprived. But do snow days come without a price?

Admittedly, I completely relate to that feeling of longing for a snow day. If so much as a hint is dropped in the weather forecast regarding snow, I suddenly transform into an amateur meteorologist, keeping up with all the latest developments. And that glorious feeling that rises up inside you when you read the email about classes being cancelled is seriously addictive. Once the snow melts away, though, the excitement melts along with it, and life returns to normal. Suddenly, the snow day that brought everyone so much joy is wreaking havoc on our established routine. From having to once again heed the alarm clock's insistent call to wakefulness to trying to reorganize and regroup for classes, snow days often cause more hassle than happiness.

When snow days happen, schedules get thrown into complete disarray. That syllabus that you got just a couple of weeks ago is suddenly not reliable anymore. Figuring out which assignments are due on the first day back to class and which ones get pushed to later dates causes me more stress than a couple of missed days of school can compensate for. For example, I walked into one of my classes for the first time after the snow days that caused classes to be cancelled this past week, and a quiz that I thought would be taking place on the next class day sat waiting for me on my desk. Unbeknownst to me, the professor had decided to stick with our planned schedule. And since snow days cause schedules to be thrown out of whack, classes become full-fledged marathons for the brain. With a day, maybe even two, of class time erased by the snow days, professors have to pick up the slack in the classes that follow these unplanned vacation days. Taking notes suddenly becomes a fire hazard as pencils scribble across pages fast enough to produce a spark.

While cancelled classes cause plenty of chaos, one of the most difficult aspects of returning from a snow day for me is readjusting to my sleep schedule. After having two unexpected days off (with a weekend in between) to sleep in, staggering out of bed at 6 a.m. was physically painful. When a new semester starts, waking up early and heading out for class gets easier as I fall into a set routine. When snow days suddenly intervene and throw everything off balance, however, I spoil myself with extra sleep time and suddenly my carefully established routine is broken. Especially when they happen at the beginning of a new semester, most students find getting back into the college groove after snow days more than a bit difficult. Furthermore, once you wake up, you actually have to get dressed and face the day. No more staying in your pajamas all day watching Netflix, reading a book, or doing any other leisurely activity. Now, you have to leave the comfort of your bed and function normally. If you are like me, though, you probably function more like a zombie at the end of a first day back after a snow day; the stress transforms my brain into something of an empty shell.

So why do we all still crave snow days, knowing that they will inevitably cause stress and chaos? The reason is quite simple: We are all about immediate gratification. If you were to look at the weather forecast right now and see that a huge snowstorm was headed our way, you probably would not be disappointed at the prospect of several snow days, right? I wouldn't be either! As humans, we live in the moment, savoring the pleasure of sleeping in and having an unexpected day off now. Later, though, we often bemoan all of the extra work that we have to do as a result. It's called human nature, and we have that in droves. The next time that a snow day is approaching, you might tell yourself that you will plan ahead of time, use the day to get assignments done. In all likelihood, however, you will probably spend the day snuggled up in a blanket with Netflix as your companion and spend the next week trying not to drown in stress. In that case, you can always hope for snow to be in the forecast.