Dear Santa,

I hope you have been having a good, relatively unstressful, holiday season so far. I can't say the same for the end of my semester. Now I understand that you are very busy and don't have a lot of time on your hands this time of year, much like myself, so I'll be brief. Here is the list of things I would like for Christmas this year that I promise I have been nice enough to get:

1. More hours in the day to get everything done, but also for break to come as quick as it can

Being the chronic procrastinator with a seemingly never-ending pile of work to do like I am, there never seems to be enough time during the day to finish everything. That being said, with break only being a week or so away, I also want time to fly by as fast as it can so I can finally head home for the holidays.

2. Some much-needed motivation and focus to get me through the next week

Even with my mountain of homework due within the next week, I still can't find the motivation I need to actually start working on that homework or the focus to stay working it once I've started.

3. Fewer sleep-deprived nights

If you read my article last week, it's pretty clear that I don't get all of the sleep I should be. So if you could find a way to help me with that problem, that'd be great. Especially if it means having more energy during the day and not semi-falling asleep in class.

4. Naptime that doesn't detract from my productivity during the day

Since I don't get a lot of sleep at night, Santa, I've resorted to taking naps between my classes, which are quite lovely. Unfortunately, I'm losing out on valuable work time by doing so. Finding a way to help me out with this would be another great gift.

5. Good, preferably homemade, food that I don't have to pay for

Not to knock on Whitney's (the dining center, if you didn't know) food or anything, but there is a lot better food out there that I could be enjoying during the last week of the semester-- a time when I definitely need good food to balance out all my other bad habits. The only thing is, I would prefer to not have to pay for this good food.

6. Ideas for the Christmas gifts I have yet to buy

All of the stress I've been under with my schoolwork hasn't left me with a lot of time to really think of good Christmas gifts. With only two weeks left until Christmas, there isn't much time to waste if I want to get gifts worthy of the people I am giving them to.

7. Some extra funds for those gifts and for future study abroad expenses next semester

In order to get those quality gifts, and the quality food, it'd be nice to have a little something extra in my bank account right about now. And not just for now, but also for some future expenses I will have regarding studying abroad in the spring.

8. Laundry that washes itself

This is an easy one. Doing laundry takes up time that I could be spending doing other, more important things. If I didn't have to worry about washing my clothes, that would be a great help to me.

9. Canceled classes or pushed-back deadlines

This one may be a little too late and a little bit out of your control, but I just thought I'd ask.

10. As much as I love them, to not be distracted by Netflix and YouTube so much

This one goes along with my lack of focus and motivation. Now is not the time for me to be starting a new series or re-watching a favorite one on either Netflix or YouTube, so if you could, you know, make them not work for a while or make me not as interested in them, I would greatly appreciate it.

11. To stay healthy throughout finals week and the holidays

Being in such close quarters to all of the other students on campus makes it so much easier to get sick during finals, especially when you throw in my weakened immune system from my lack of sleep, healthy food, and exercise. So if you could, the gift of health during both finals week and the holidays would be fantastic.

12. The ability to not shower every day and not have my greasy hair and oily skin reflect that

If I'm being honest, this is one of the more important and practical things on my list. Showering takes up a lot of time for me, and there are some nights when I just don't have that time. And skipping the occasional shower wouldn't be a problem at all if I didn't have to worry about covering up the greasy hair and oily skin I get in result.

13. More sleep

Did I already mention this one? Oh well. If you can't tell, Santa, this is a very important item on my list.

14. At least a day of peace in the world

This one is pretty self-explanatory. With everything bad that has been going on in the world recently, it'd be nice to have at least one day where we didn't have to hear about shootings or bombings or other things of that nature.

Well that about sums it up. Thanks for everything, Santa! Merry Christmas!

Love,

A very overworked, unfocused, sleep-deprived, broke, and Christmas-awaiting college student