Ever notice how after a shower, after sitting quietly, or after finishing your Quran reading, you feel lighter? The problem is still there, but you can think about it more calmly. That experience shows a shift from tension to something more relaxed. But feeling calm alone doesn’t mean you’re definitely in an “alpha state”.
So what exactly is the alpha state?
Our brain is always producing electrical activity that can be measured with an EEG. One of those patterns is alpha waves, around 8–13 Hz, which are usually more noticeable when we’re awake, resting and have our eyes closed. The term “alpha state” is normally used to describe being calm but still conscious — not asleep, not out of control. Reference: Neurosity.
Picture yourself sitting comfortably, eyes closed, shoulders no longer tense, and you can still hear what’s happening around you. That’s an example of the state often linked to alpha. But the brain doesn’t run on one type of wave only; different patterns of activity happen at the same time.
Why does it matter?
Alpha is part of how the brain manages information processing and attention, including cutting down the distraction from input we don’t need. It’s not just a sign that the brain is “switched off”. That said, more alpha isn’t necessarily better in every situation — we still need the right level of alertness when driving, doing calculations or solving something complicated. Reference: Neurosity.
In daily life, the more useful goal is learning to calm yourself so you can choose your response more consciously. You don’t need to chase brain wave numbers to start building this habit.
Examples that are close to our daily life
Before replying to a message that made you angry. A staff member sends a disappointing report. You immediately feel like firing off a long reply. Put the phone down, close your eyes for a moment and slow your breathing. Once you’ve cooled down, read it again. Ask yourself: “What needs to be fixed, and what’s the clearest instruction I need to give?”
Before a meeting or a big decision. Your head is still full of problems from the previous meeting. Take five minutes to sit quietly, breathe slowly and recite selawat. Then write down the main objective of the next meeting. This routine gives you room to organise your attention; decisions still have to be based on facts and judgement.
After getting home from work. Your body is home, but your mind is still at the office. Take a comfortable warm shower, change your clothes and spend a few minutes reading the Quran or reciting selawat. Make it a transition routine before you join the family.
When you’re stuck for ideas. You’ve been staring at the screen and repeating the same thing. Stop for a while, walk slowly or sit without your phone. When you come back, try writing the problem in one sentence. The point is to give yourself room to look at the question more clearly — not a guarantee that ideas will come because of alpha.
How do you start quickly?
1. Close your eyes for one to two minutes. Sit somewhere safe, loosen your shoulders and jaw. Closing your eyes is one of the easiest ways to increase alpha activity at the back of the brain. No need to force your mind to go blank. Reference: Neurosity.
2. Slow your breathing for two to five minutes. Try breathing in for four seconds and out for six, without forcing or holding your breath. Shorten the count if it feels uncomfortable. Studies show that brief daily breathing practice can help your mood and reduce physiological arousal, but that’s not proof that everyone immediately enters alpha. If you feel dizzy, go back to breathing normally. Study in Cell Reports Medicine.
3. Read the Quran with tartil and understand the meaning. Spend five to ten minutes without opening messages or doing other work. Read with attention, or listen to a recitation while following the meaning. Make this time a space for worship and for drawing closer to Allah.
4. Recite selawat calmly. Read the selawat you normally practise, with attention and love for Rasulullah SAW. Breathe naturally. No need to chase speed or force your recitation to follow your breath count.
5. Take a comfortable warm shower. Make the shower a space to step away from the busyness. Feel the water, loosen your shoulders and avoid continuing work matters on your phone. After that, follow it with sitting quietly, reading the Quran or reciting selawat.
Reading the Quran, reciting selawat and showering can all be part of your calm routine, depending on your own experience and comfort. But we can’t promise these practices will produce a specific alpha wave within minutes. The value of worship is also far wider than a measure of brain activity.
A five-minute routine before you go back to something important: one minute sitting with your eyes closed, two minutes breathing slowly, then two minutes reciting selawat with normal breathing. Open your eyes and decide on one action to take next. This is a suggested routine to calm yourself, not a formula that guarantees alpha in five minutes.
Datuk Wira
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