With finals right around the corner, my longing for winter break is too. OK, so maybe that second part is always there (just sitting in the back of my mind), but this time of year, my feelings about going home for the holidays are amplified by about a thousand. That being said, here are 10 reason winter break needs to hurry up and get here (and finals need to hurry up so I can get them over with).

1. I'm ready to sleep for a few days.

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I think at this point in the semester we all need at least a few days of sleep, and there's really no better time to sleep until you can't possibly sleep anymore than over winter break.

2. Food, food, oh and did I mention food?

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Me attempting to make my own food does not compare in any way, shape, or form to the food that I get to eat at home, and let me just tell you that I am ready.

3. No more stress, right?

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OK, so I'm sure there's always going to be a little bit of stress, BUT once you're home for the holidays, those stress levels are sure to decrease, right?

4. I'm ready to see my family.

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I'm ready to see my family, to talk to my family, to joke and laugh and watch movies with my family. I'm ready to put up the Christmas tree, and do all of the things that I've missed being able to do with them this semester.

5. Also my friends, I miss them too.

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My friends from home are some of the absolute best friends a girl could ask for, and I miss them. Trying to find time to meet up during the semester with conflicting schedules and different breaks is hard, but a little easier knowing that you can find to meet up over the holiday season.

6. On that note, I MISS MY PETS.

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I don't know about you, but I miss my pets. As crazy as it sounds, I think I'm about ready to go back to a house with a cat who bites me every time I try to pet him. What can I say, I love him anyways.

7. It's time for a break from exams and papers.

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So many exams and so, so many papers. It's time for a break from writing (and a break from late night study sessions).

8. I haven't had a decently long amount of free time in months.

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I don't think weekends really count when they're full of studying and writing papers, right? Either way, as much free time as I've had at school, I don't think anything could quite compare to the sort of free time one can only have when they can rest assured that they're classes for the semester are indeed over.

9. It's time for the HOLIDAYS.

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I'm not sure how I was able to make it almost to the end of this list without mentioning my extreme excitement for the holiday season. I mean, I've had my Christmas decorations up since the first of November.

10. I love school, but it's time for a break.

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A winter break to be exact. As much as I love school and everything that comes with it, we all need a break sometimes, and I do miss home. So, if we could get these exams over, that'd really be great.

With the end of the semester approaching, so too is the downward spiral of my productivity levels — BUT, I'd like to think that we're in the home stretch, and if we can make it through just a few more weeks (or even days), it'll be winter break before we know it.