Life can be stressful, right? With work pressures and family obligations, sometimes it’s hard to find downtime. Relaxation is important for our health, and hobbies are a terrific and sometimes even productive way to relax.

Swipe through to get some ideas for relaxing hobbies.

Communing with nature is definitely relaxing. If you have a yard, there’s always something to do, but stick to what you’re comfortable with and leave the rest for another day. While you’re outside, marvel at the growth that’s happened since the last time you were outdoors, and be sure to take some deep, restful breaths to catch the scent of nature’s gifts.

Consider downloading some free woodworking plans and get creative. Pick something easy to craft like a birdhouse, a planter or a serving tray that won’t stress you out. You might also choose something that would offer practical use for your family.

If you’re lucky enough to have a body of water nearby that's safe for fishing, make time to head to the pond and toss in a few casts. Just being outside in nature is calming, and the repetitive motion of throwing your line again and again can be relaxing.

Knitting and crocheting are hobbies that many find relaxing. Working with brightly colored yarns, the clackety-clack of the needles and the repetitive motions offer a soothing escape from the worries of the day. Plus, you might just end up with a cute beanie or blanket.

Papercrafting can be quite relaxing as well. Sifting through colorful bits of decorated paper and coming up with just the right combo to craft a gorgeous, handmade birthday card for your best friend or a scrapbook page to commemorate your trip to Italy is highly rewarding, too.

The measuring and mixing, the scent of the cookies in the oven, and, of course, the sheer joy of biting into and tasting a homemade confection all make baking pretty relaxing. And of course, there’s the happiness that comes from sharing your delights with family members too.

Working on a jigsaw puzzle can be a good way to relax, even if it’s a 1000-piece puzzle with a complicated design! Mindless searching for the right piece can be fun, especially if you can coax a family member to work on the puzzle with you.

Some people find journaling their thoughts and ideas a very relaxing activity. Sometimes the very act of writing about something that happened at work or with your tricky teenager can soothe your feelings about that event and help you find peace.

Take your smartphone outside and challenge yourself to see things differently with its camera. Shoot a newly bloomed rose or catch a butterfly mid-air. Maybe you’d prefer to stay inside and see how many crazy angles you can get of the toaster.