Dream journaling... How to wake up during the night?

**Agaruff** · 04-12-2014 11:21 AM

I want to try WILD which requires me to know my regular sleep cycle. I read on a tutorial that you need to wake up just before your REM and I understand all that. Apparently you wake up naturally after each REM period but I don't, or don't have any memory of doing so. So how am I supposed to find out where my REMs are if I can't take note of them because I don't wake up? I hope this makes sense, if it doesn't please tell me so. If it does please help.

**VagalTone** · 04-12-2014 12:25 PM

First, it really helps to set an alarm in order to get some discipline to write in your dream journal. As you practice dream recall ( mini WBTBs ), your dreams will get more vivid, and you will notice better your micro-awakenings. Then, you can rely on yourself. If you use those micro-awakenings to dream journal or any other mental activity, you will activate the loop of vividness, dream recall and wakefulness - but be careful to not disturb your sleep

**Irreo** · 04-12-2014 12:40 PM

Not sure if there's a way of knowing the exact time, except using one of those devices that reads brain waves.

Now, after many months writting a dream journal, I wake up many times during the night... usually every 1.5 - 2 hours, which I assume is after a dream cycle. I drink a bit of water and go back to sleep.

I guess that, once you know more or less when you wake up, and assuming you always go to bed at a similar time, then you can know, more or less, when your REM happens. For instance, if you usually wake up at around 4am and then around 6am, you know that a good alarm clock could be 3.30am, and 5.30am. Keeping in mind that it takes some time to WILD, maybe it should be set earlier.

But anyway I'm not a WILDer, so any experts correct me and/or give your opinions.

**Laurelindo** · 04-12-2014 06:13 PM

I have a related question about waking up from REM cycles:
if you wake up after a REM cycle, how can you make use of that and get back into a dream?
Wouldn't you dive back into the next NREM phase then, if the REM period you just had has already ended?
Or can you have natural awakenings in the middle of a REM period as well?

**VagalTone** · 04-12-2014 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by Laurelindo

I have a related question about waking up from REM cycles:
if you wake up after a REM cycle, how can you make use of that and get back into a dream?
Wouldn't you dive back into the next NREM phase then, if the REM period you just had has already ended?
Or can you have natural awakenings in the middle of a REM period as well?

When you WILD you can ( not necessarily ) go through NREM 1,2 and 3 and still arrive, more or less luciddly, to REM. I think the WBTB also serves the purpose of reducing all this NREM - as a strategy to postpone less important sleep stages. So i think there's no problem to wake up naturally to WILD - but WBTB would be a good help ( unless you want to do WBTB in the supine position ! ). It is a good question if waking up in REM is better than after REM to WILD. It is better for DEILD of course, but can it shorten WILD induction time ? IDK

Yes, you can have natural awakenings in the middle of REM with nightmares, or just intense emotions( like becoming lucid ) or sometimes for no reason ( ? ). But of course, you have little control here other than through lucidity ( or technology )