When you send your kids off to college, you know they’re going to have some fun. And you can’t blame them. After all, they are working hard to earn a degree, so it only makes sense that they would play hard in their off-time. Plus, they’re away from your supervision for the first time, and the thrill of making their own decisions (and having no curfew or rules) can lead to a lot of late nights out with their friends. At some point, though, their hard partying might get the best of them, leaving them fatigued, ill, and unable to perform their duties as a student. In this case, you might want to suggest some activities that could not only be fun for them, but also more relaxing. Here are just a few relaxing activities for college students that will ensure they have a great time without compromising their education in the process.

1. Learn an instrument. Most students are already learning a lot thanks to their heavy course load, but taking up an instrument is an entirely different beast. Playing music forces the mind to switch gears, which can lead to increased focus and calm. It can drive away the clamor produced by cramming one’s head full of new facts and help students to release some tension, forget their worries, and get back to a healthy mental state.
2. Host a movie night. Having fun with friends doesn’t have to include running around all night or getting crazy. Sometimes a night in the common room with popcorn or pizza and a few good movies is just what the doctor ordered.
3. Play a team sport. This might not sound like a particularly relaxing activity, but the truth is that exercise can help to relieve stress and boost endorphins, making students feel great. This can be even more effective when playing a sport like baseball or doubles tennis, which can be relaxing and still boost endorphins. Think about whether or not you want to buy a new baseball bat or glove and join a team or maybe catch a doubles game of tennis. It can also help to induce a good night’s sleep, which pretty much any college kid could use. In addition, it allows students to spend quality time with their friends away from the books and the parties. In short, sports could be the most positive and beneficial activity your kids partake of on campus (well, aside from attending classes, studying, and ultimately earning a degree).
4. Create online scrapbooks. Family and friends back home want to stay apprised of what students are up to when they go away to college, but most kids don’t have a ton of extra time to call and Skype with everyone they know. However, smartphones and tablets make it easy for students to keep photo journals of their campus experience, and all they have to do is upload them to a social networking account like Instagram or Facebook in order to share. Of course, they can also have a little more fun with the process by using Pinterest to create pinboards for specific events like spring break, sporting events, and clubs they’ve joined, just for example.
5. Picnic on the quad. Students spend so much time running back and forth across campus to get to class that they might never take the time to enjoy the beauty of their surroundings. So instead of spending their study time indoors, they could load up a picnic basket for lunch on the quad. Or if they really want to relax, they could leave the books for an hour or two and enjoy a long lunch (and maybe some frisbee) with friends.

Relaxing is just as important for college students as it is for adults. Relaxation relieves stress and allows your student an opportunity to recharge.