- World Mindfulness Day study reveals 97% open to mindfulness to combat stress
Oslo, Norway – 12 September 2025 – Seven out of 10 adults are stressed and looking for relief. With stress and anxiety permeating our everyday lives, 97% of those surveyed have expressed an openness to trying mindfulness practices as a potential solution, a new joint study from Norwegian company Opera [NASDAQ: OPRA] and Oxford Mindfulness, an internationally recognized charity that teaches mindfulness, reveals on World Mindfulness Day 2025. And yet, despite a robust body of research on the effectiveness of mindfulness practices – like breathing exercises or meditation – more than 50% of those surveyed do not currently engage in them.
Mindfulness in Practice
Although the survey bears out widespread public interest in mindfulness practices, only 46% of adults are practicing mindfulness while at work, and 47% at home. In addition, 39% report that they presently use online tools that promote positive mental health.
The research is conclusive: as little as ten minutes of daily mindfulness practice can improve wellbeing, and ease symptoms of depression and anxiety, as per a recent study from the Universities of Southampton and Bath.
“Mindfulness shouldn’t be seen as a luxury that we get around to when we feel like we have time. In our busy lives, integrating mindfulness practices can help us pause, take a breath, and meet whatever’s next with a little more steadiness and clarity. Whether you’re at work or at home, that small shift can make a big difference,” said Sharon Hadley, Chief Executive Officer at Oxford Mindfulness, who spent 10 years studying the effectiveness of mindfulness in the workplace as part of her research.
Opera Air brings mindfulness to life online
The Opera Air and Oxford Mindfulness study also revealed that 70% of adults spend a minimum of 4 hours a day in front of a screen at work, with 68% consuming at least 2 more hours at home. And with 70% reporting that they feel stressed or overwhelmed while browsing the web, the need for digital well-being has never been more critical.
The web is one place where stress happens – it could also be where calm begins. Opera Air meets people where they are: online, with free, easy-to-use, research-based tools that help users experience the benefits of mindfulness right from their browser,” continued Hadley.
Opera Air is a browser designed to promote mindfulness and reduce stress, making it easy for its users to integrate key mindfulness features directly into their workflow, directly from the browser interface. It has two key features: Take a Break and Boosts. Take a Break offers breathing exercises, neck stretches, meditations, and full body scans that last between 3 and 16 minutes. Users can also set reminders to take a mindful break.
Boosts are research-backed soundscapes that play directly from the browser. The feature uses binaural beats – an auditory technique where different frequencies in each ear create a third frequency in the brain – to help influence brainwave activity and relieve stress, channel focus, or enhance creativity. Users can adjust each aspect of a Boost – the ambient sounds, background music, and frequency of the binaural beat – to customize their experience. Additionally, a recent update allows users to share their favorite Boosts with their friends and colleagues. Designed to be used while a person continues to browse or work, Boosts offer users a non-disruptive way to improve their mental state.
Take the first step towards a more mindful day – download Opera Air for free.
The study is based on a survey of 4,000 people in the US, UK, Brazil, and Turkey. It was commissioned by Opera and Oxford Mindfulness and conducted by PollFish.
About Opera
Opera is a user-centric and innovative software company focused on enabling the best possible internet browsing experience across all devices. Hundreds of millions use Opera web browsers for their unique and secure features on mobile phones and desktop computers. Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Oslo, Norway, Opera is a public company listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the ticker symbol OPRA. Download the Opera web browsers and other Opera products from opera.com. Learn more about Opera at investor.opera.com.
About Oxford Mindfulness
Oxford Mindfulness is a not-for-profit organisation helping people achieve greater well-being and improved mental health through research-based mindfulness. They partner with the University of Oxford to develop easy-to-understand programmes which combine mindfulness and psychological science, these programmes are then delivered on a global scale via international partnerships to achieve a vision of a more mindful world. Learn more at oxfordmindfulness.org.