WBTB Failure

Yesterday I was attempting a WBTB. I went to sleep at 11:00pm. I woke back up at 4:30am. I stayed up until about 4:50am after reading a lot about Lucid Dreaming. I had it in my mind definitely. But I couldn't fall asleep. This has happened before, it only happens when I know that I'm in a situation where I have to fall asleep soon. The mantras didn't help either, after about 30 minutes I gave up with the mantras all together but I had no luck. I couldn't clear my thoughts also. Anyway before I knew it, it was 6:00am and the birds were cherping outside. I think I finally got to sleep at 6:30. Any tips for relaxing myself and clearing my thoughts before returning back to sleep? Also what if I feel the mantras are keeping me up?

Mantra's can be tricky. Words are abstract and require frontal lobe activity for understanding. Frontal lobe activity ( an overactive mind, if you will) can lead to sleepless nights. I have learned to visualize the words on a billboard. Better yet, create a symbol that represents lucid dreaming to you. Visualize the symbol. Just a thought. Good luck to you!

You may have been too anxious (or trying too hard?) which doesn't help with getting back to sleep.
I know what you mean. Earlier this week I got up for a WBTB at about 5 am. (Had about 5 hrs sleep previously.) Stayed up for about half-an-hour. Went to bed, where it took me an hour to get back to sleep!
However, I did have some vivid dreams later that morning.

Since then I have done some relaxation exercises, like stretching, concentrating on my breathing, etc. Counting down from 100, down imaginary stairs, for example. I try to still my mind and not concentrate on thoughts running through my head.

(You may find some more suitable techniques in the dream views wiki section to help you?)

This has helped me get to sleep quicker after my WBTB wake up break when I go back to bed. Also if you attempt a WILD then these exercises will be good preperation for you.

Good luck!

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Originally Posted by faceonmars

Mantra's can be tricky. Words are abstract and require frontal lobe activity for understanding. Frontal lobe activity ( an overactive mind, if you will) can lead to sleepless nights. I have learned to visualize the words on a billboard. Better yet, create a symbol that represents lucid dreaming to you. Visualize the symbol. Just a thought. Good luck to you!

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Good advice here.

There is nothing worse than a racing mind at 4am. When I feel like I am not falling asleep, or getting frustrated, I will get out of bed for a minute. I will just walk around for a minute or two, maybe look out the window at the calm night. Sometimes this is enough to reset my racing mind.

Try to stay up little shorter. When mantras are keeping you awake, rather than loosing sleep, abandon the attempt. Sometimes the conditions are just not right. Sometimes you get a DILD after you decide to just go back to sleep, because you don't feel the pressure anymore. Learning to meditate may also help. Happy dreams:)