Opera's new browser helps you focus, stretch and eliminate stress

Much of the digital environment is centered around optimizing for attention, from the Gattaca-style design of social media apps to the engagement-optimized matchmaking in online games. Opera's newest browser release, Opera Air, aims to remedy this struggle by offering a browsing experience designed around mindfulness.

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Introduced as "the world's first mindfulness-based browser," Opera Air comes equipped with a range of unique, digital-wellness-based features. Visually, the UI has a friendly, tranquil feel, with bubbly, rounded address bars and transparent backgrounds covering the entire browser. On the left-most toolbar, you'll find a suite of browser-specific tools, including boosts, which 'simulate different brain waves through music and sound to boost creativity.' The 'take a break' button contains a range of breathing, neck exercises, meditations, and full body scans.

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While these features might sound unusual or tacked on for a web browser, they feel very well refined and integrated with the experience. For users who work with hour-long focus music playlists on YouTube, you'll quickly embrace the audio options available in Boosts. The stretching-focused 'take-a-break' exercises are accessible, with voice guides and a 3D model you can follow along with. You can also set break reminders, which are built into your browser.

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Opera's mainline browser and the gaming-focused Opera GX contain arguably the most robust set of features available in web browsing. Workspaces, toolbars, pretty animations. Opera Air provides a more balanced aesthetic, ideal for users who prefer a more minimalist feel.

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The mainline Opera browser

The developers of Opera Air appeared in a YouTube video explaining the philosophy behind the software's design.

"The web is beautiful but it can be chaotic and overwhelming,"

"We were looking for a way to get some calm back in our digital lives."

Knowledge workers often recognize the benefits of taking breaks, stretching, and mindful breathing. Opera Air supports these habits by making removing friction. Integrating meditation and breathing exercises directly into the workspace increases the likelihood of actually doing these things, eliminating the need to switch apps or search for external resources.

Excessive screen time has become of increasing concern, as studies find strong correlations between high screen time and increased levels of depression and anxiety. The terms 'doom scroll' and 'brain rot' have become synonymous with modern tech culture, and in that regard, it's refreshing to see a browser dedicated to combatting those trends. As someone who values digital wellness, I'm strongly considering making the switch.

Opera Air is currently available now for Windows users in early access.