2020 was, according to Gallup, the most stressful year in recent history — a record-high 40 percent of adults worldwide said they had experienced a lot of stress the previous day. That’s out of nearly 190 million people globally who said they experienced a lot of stress, compared to 35 percent reporting stress the previous year.

Today on Stress Awareness Day, started by the International Stress Management Association, we’re focusing on providing products that don’t just deliver great experiences – but also make you feel good. Experts in the virtual reality space have been testing to see how VR can help stress levels, reduce anxiety, and even help better sleep onset. Studies from leading institutions like Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the University of Washington have indicated that VR has the potential to relieve anxiety and depression, and research shows meditation to be among one of the most effective solutions for managing stress.

Our latest product, VIVE Flow aims to counterbalance the pressures of daily life. VIVE Flow is a compact, lightweight immersive glasses device intended to help people nurture their minds, relax, have fun on a daily basis, and go with the flow. VIVE Flow allows people to immerse themselves in a new and convenient way – effortlessly fitting into life and providing a simple way to improve wellbeing. VIVE Flow is spearheading a new product category that will help redefine self-care – whether that means watching your favorite show, meditating, or playing a relaxing game.

VIVE Flow is designed to fit different head shapes and sizes, and it easily folds down so you can store it in your purse or satchel. VIVE Flow also has built-in diopter dials, so you can easily make adjustments for crystal clear visuals without wearing glasses. Its active cooling system pulls warm air away from your face, allowing you to comfortably wear it for longer moments of zen or enjoy your favorite streaming service.

We’ve curated a set of everyday life experiences from walking in the woods, to gazing at the stars, or enjoying the tranquility of a calm lake. All of these experiences can help you slow down, relax, restore, and take care of your mental health. More than three million people worldwide use meditation apps, indicating a strong demand for this method of stress reduction and improved wellness. For example, the award-winning meditation app TRIPP on VIVE Flow helps people fall into the meditative experience faster and deeper, allowing people to be more relaxed after using the app.

“Stress is dismissed as a fleeting headspace, an isolated emotion that passes on its own. But unmitigated, unmanaged stress permeates the body — sometimes leaving a physical imprint we fail to trace back to what can often be a mentally triggered root cause. Technology today, like what we’re building with TRIPP through XR wellness, is providing the tools and resources to effectively cope with inevitable stressors so that we’re not only unburdening the mind but relieved from the weight that unchecked stress carries,” said Nanea Reeves, Founder and CEO of TRIPP.

Take some time for yourself. Learn more about VIVE Flow at https://www.vive.com/us/product/vive-flow/overview/