At the end of the year, a lot of us find ourselves with some much-deserved downtime. No professional obligations and finally some mental space for the better things in life – like unwinding by yourself or with family and friends. Here are some of our recommendations for apps that can help you really relax and get comfy.

It’s time to catch up on all those amazing series and films you’ve missed during the year because you were so busy. Explore wastelands full of zombies and zaddies, a future full of robots, aliens and other yet-to-be-defined creatures or maybe chill with something a little less high-paced, such as a fun romcom or a cosy murder mystery. These streaming apps are chock-a-block full of great titles that keep us watching, so you’re bound to find something to spend some hours on the sofa with.

You know what makes the holidays really great? Baked goods. But don’t run out to that expensive bakery just yet – baking is actually not that difficult! It doesn’t take a master baker or experienced pâtissier to make a delicious cake or a tray of scrum-diddly-umptious cookies, and we find it to be a fun activity too, especially with friends or kids! Browse these apps to find the best (and easiest) recipes.

It can be hard to balance work and social life sometimes, so making the most of the downtime this time of year also means connecting with friends and family – charge that social battery! While nothing is better than face-to-face time, of course, at times it’s just not possible to see everyone. These handy apps make it so you can at least get in touch and let your loved ones know you’re thinking about them in fun and innovative ways.

Listen, we get it. Sometimes you get a bit too much downtime and you find yourself wanting for a fun activity. If you’re looking for a new hobby, these apps can hook you up. Whether it’s something to challenge you mentally or getting into a new physical activity, have a look at these apps.