I tried a new anti-stress browser to see if it could really help me relax – and it actually works

Stress is rampant across the world these days. It’s practically unavoidable. From politics, finances, work, school, and relationships, everything seems to be getting wrapped up in a cocoon of chaos that threatens our peace.

That’s why, any time I can, I will reach for something capable of easing me back into a state of calm.

The developers of the Opera browser understand this, so they developed a new web browser built specifically to level us out, bring us peace, and help us get through those stressful days.

This browser, dubbed your “Mindful Browser,” is designed to soothe the nerves raging against the machine in your head, and it does so with:

• Break reminders
• Binaural beats
• Meditation and relaxation tools
• A minimal Scandinavian design with a “frosted glass” look 
• A floating sidebar

Opera Air is currently still in the early access phase (released Feb. 4, 2025) and is available to download and install on MacOS and Windows (hopefully, a Linux version will come soon).

Also: How Opera’s new Air browser helped me to keep calm and surf on

I was doubtful about the effectiveness of Opera Air at first, but then I saw the binaural beats feature and was immediately intrigued. I’ve used binaural beats quite a bit, especially in situations that could lead to tension or even when working on a writing project that requires intense concentration. I’ve installed apps and created Spotify playlists for binaural beats, and having that built into a browser convinced me that Opera Air was something I definitely needed to try.

And try I did.

Binaural beats aka Boosts

Once installed on my MacBook Pro, I immediately jumped to the binaural beats feature (called Boosts), which is the top icon (looking like a flower) in the floating sidebar. Click that icon to choose from three different beats:

• Creativity Boost – Theta 6 Hz
• Energized Focus – Alpha 12 Hz
• Deep Relaxation – Theta 5 Hz

I ran through a quick test of each and found all three options brought about a completely different sensation. With the Creativity Boost, I felt relaxed, but my mind was energized. Energized Focus brought a totally different energy that seemed to propel me forward. Finally, Deep Relaxation offered an all-encompassing calm.

Also: 5 great Chrome browser alternatives that put your privacy first

I’m a big believer in binaural beats and how sound affects our various moods, so this was a most welcome addition. My only thought on the feature would be to offer more options. I’d like to see an option that is more ambient and less melodic (such as this outstanding binaural playlist from Spotify).

Let’s move on.

Take a break

The other standout feature is called “Take a Break.” Click the icon below Binaural Beats, and a new pop-up appears with four different exercises:

• Breathing
• Neck exercises
• Meditation
• Full Body Scan

Again, I’m a big believer in all of those things, and Opera Air walks you through the exercises with a soothing voice and calming sounds. When you start one of the exercises, the browser window is taken over by the exercise, so you are encouraged to complete it without getting back to work or doom-scrolling.

It works, and it’s incredible.

You can pause the exercise and return to where you left off, changing the ambient sound as well as the music.

It’s also a browser

Did I fail to mention that Opera Air is also a browser? Yeah, it can render web pages and do everything Opera can do, with Aria AI, ad blocking, a free VPN, and more. As you know, I’m a big fan of the Opera web browser, so having the additional “Air” in this browser elevates Opera Air to a must-have for anyone who needs to reclaim their calm.

Also: Opera’s Tab Traces has a little trick to keep my browsing on track

Even the frosted glass UI is calming. One look at that theme, and at least part of your tension will dissipate.

I’m not saying that Opera Air will solve all of your stress-induced problems, but anything you can do to help you find a bit of peace in these tumultuous times should be considered a must.

You can download and try out the early access version of Opera Air from the official site. If you use MacOS or Windows, I would strongly suggest you do; your mind and soul will thank you for it.