A new browser from the Norwegian company Opera just launched today, and it wants you to stop stressing out so much.The free browser, called Opera Air, is billed as the first-ever mindful browser. While existing mindfulness apps like Calm and Headspace can help you take a break to reduce feelings of stress, Opera Air proposes a product that integrates mindfulness directly into working online. The browser comes with a sleek, minimal UI and built-in mindfulness toolslike breathing exercises and binaural beatsso users can code, type, or browse the web and get a brain boost simultaneously.Nikita Walia is a brand strategist at U.N.N.A.M.E.D, the creative partners behind Opera Air. According to Walia, who led the strategy behind the new browsers launch campaign, the team landed on the key insight that most people dont actually want to disconnect from technologyinstead, they want room to think clearly in a busy digital world.We noticed that there was a pretty binary relationship to technology as its presented by peoples opinions online, Walia says. Either you want to throw your phone in the ocean and disappear, or youre super, super addicted to technology. We thought Opera could present a third way, where technology can be really supportive to your overall goals and your wellbeing.For the sizable portion of the workforce that relies on computers for their livelihoods, chucking your Macbook into the sea isnt exactly the solution to a better workday experience. As a remote journalist myself, ditching technology isnt a sustainable solution, and even tried-and-true mindfulness practices like meditation can feel difficult to incorporate into a busy schedule. So, I gave Opera Air a try to see if its worth abandoning Google Chrome once and for all.[Image: Opera]A browser for minimalistsThe first thing youll notice when you open Opera Air is that there arent many bells and whistlesand thats by design. According to Tomasz Stawarz, Opera Airs senior director of product, Opera Air is a purposefully pared-down version of Operas other browser options, a choice thats intended to combat the chaotic and overwhelming nature of the web.The browsers default settings include one simple Google search bar, an uplifting quote at the bottom of the screen, and a sidebar with five preloaded icons, including Operas AI, Aria, and the browsers two mindfulness tools. This sidebar can be updated to include any combination of apps, but Stawarz suggests that users get a feel for their most-used programs before updating it to keep the screen decluttered.[Image: Opera]Users can choose from a set of custom-designed CGI wallpapers by U.N.N.A.M.E.D and the creative studio Future Romance as their backdrop (I chose a green mountainscape). Opera Airs features and launch campaign both emphasize a visual bubble metaphor, which pulsates and bounces to mimic the tempo of relaxed breathing. And all of the browsers UI elements, including search bars, tabs, and icons, are rendered in what Stawarz calls a frosted glass effect, which is essentially a minimal, semi-transparent look.Weve kept distractions to a minimum by limiting the color palette and embracing clean, minimalistic design, Stawarz says.[Image: Opera]As a loyal Chrome user, I found Opera Air quite easy to navigate. My main qualm with the browser itself is that, once youve racked up enough tabs, it becomes difficult to select one without inadvertently clicking the X and exiting out of ita minor annoyance that got pretty frustrating after about the tenth time it happened. Still, I appreciated the simplicity of the default settings and the browsers streamlined aesthetics.[Image: Opera]Putting Opera Air to the testThe true test of Opera Air is in its two mindfulness features, called Boosts and Take a Break. I decided to give these tools a trial by fire by testing them out for the first time during a workday with several quick turn-around deadlines.The first feature, Boosts, uses something called binaural beats to help users achieve sensations ranging from Energized Focus to Deep Relaxation. Binaural beats are an auditory technique wherein two slightly different frequencies are played in each ear, causing the brain to generate its own perceived third frequency. According to a press release from Opera, This is known to influence brainwave activity, helping to promote relaxation, focus, or a meditative statealthough, it should be noted that scientists are still debating exactly how effective binaural beats actually are, and under what conditions.[Image: Opera]Currently, Opera Air comes with 19 Boosts, each of which is composed of three elements: background music, ambient noise (like bird sounds or waves), and binaural frequencies. The Boosts have been created by the Opera Air team with different effects in mind. Focused Calm, for example, includes a slower music track and comes with more prominent binaural beats. Energized Focus, on the other hand, features a more upbeat soundtrack and less noticeable beats. Users can browse the Boosts descriptions to select one thats right for their current task, and even customize them by adjusting the volumes of the three components of the beats.Both Boosts and Take a Break are easily accessible as icons in the browsers sidebar, so its pretty simple to change your Boost or tweak its volume from whatever tab youre working in.[Image: Opera]I frequently use binaural beats to get into a flow state while writing, so, predictably, I found myself better able to focus on my work while a Boost was playing. Still, Im not entirely sold on the utility of this tool, considering that thousands of similar compositions are just a few clicks away on YouTube. Opera Airs second mindfulness feature, Take a Break, is a bit more involved. This tool takes users to a variety of exercises, including guided breathing sessions, meditation, neck exercises, and a full-body scan, all designed to encourage a moment of relaxation. Each of the four categories includes several different session options, ranging from a three-minute destress breathing session to a 15-minute full body scan.During my workday trial, I was pleasantly surprised by a four-minute neck exercise, which gave me some much-need tension release after a few hours spent hunched over my laptop (though the program relies on tracking your facial movements, which I noticed could be somewhat finicky, especially for those with longer hair). Similarly, I observed a noticeable difference in my stress levels before and after a five-minute box breathing exercise. All of the sessions include voiceovers from a male or female narratoryou can toggle between Alex or Emmawhich made it easy to close my eyes and really commit to slowing down for a moment.Going into this test, I was concerned that I might be irritated by the browsers reminders to use Take a Break, but I actually found myself wishing it would badger me more. Opera Air lets you decide whether you want to be reminded to do your activities, and you can determine the frequency of reminders, ranging from every 45 to 180 minutes. When your time is up, the Take a Break icon on the browser sidebar will begin subtly flashing. Despite setting my reminder frequency to 45 minutes, I found that I often missed the flashing cue, and then ultimately decided to just skip the exercise and do it next time. Granted, theres only so much a browser can do to convince us to actually practice self-care, but I hope the next iteration of Opera Air will include an option for more aggressive notification.Do I think Opera Air is the answer to my work-induced stress? No. But could it help make staring at my screen for hours more manageable? Definitely.