Lucid dreams more likely in new environment. Speculation.

**Bobblehat** · 04-19-2014 11:25 AM

It's been discussed many times, but I know that many have noticed that lucid dreams are more likely to occur when you sleep in a strange environment. I've noticed I often lucid dream on holiday - usually the first night in a new bed I LD. Also, I've read that women are better at lucid dreaming than men. There could be a reason for this - I've read that women are lighter sleepers than men because they monitor for sleeping babies waking and crying. So it could be said - broadly - that the women are alert for danger thus lighter sleeper. The increase in lucidity rate while on holiday (or sleeping on the sofa in your normal home because your other half has flu

) could be because the strange sounds (and sensations) leads to heightened awareness while asleep because you perceive the unusual sensations as "danger". Thus an increased chance of lucidity follows? So you could maybe use this - set up something that you genuinely perceive as a "safe" danger and use it to increase your chance of becoming lucid.

**VagalTone** · 04-19-2014 03:31 PM

It makes perfect sense ! Camping sounds very promising

**VenturerEmily** · 04-19-2014 05:08 PM

That would be kind of mindblowing! I've only had one lucid dream so far, but when I had it I was on vacation visiting some family members in a different state. A lot of my dreams that week had been extremely vivid and weird, and I think two nights before I left for home it happened! I'm betting I wouldn't have had one yet if it wasn't for me being on vacation that year.

**Bobblehat** · 04-19-2014 05:24 PM

It can be very frustrating too, when you have set up the "perfect" routine to achieve LDs at home, have experienced a dry spell, then gone on holiday and BOOM! you have an LD without very much intention.

**Sensei** · 04-19-2014 06:08 PM

In my mind, you sleep lighter when in a new environment because your mind is wired that way so that you can keep track of your surroundings in case of predators.

looking at the two main ideas, intelligent design or evolution it works either way.

**Conscience** · 04-19-2014 10:16 PM

but think of it that way: If you're in a new environment there's also a lot to dream about, I don't think it's just the new sounds, it's also the new thing's you've perceived during the day
We know we process our feelings and perceptions of the day while we're asleep. Of course you will dream more intensely if you've seen a new place, some great buildings and beautiful landscapes

OP mentioned that women have more lucid dreams because they're more sensitive regarding sounds at night... that might be partly true...
I heard men focus on the things they're looking at while women see the whole environment.
that reminded me of ADA... whenever I try to be aware I see the whole environment, and not just a spot I was focusing at.
If it's true that women see more environment while men focus on the center of their viewing field, it also makes sense that women spot odd things in their dreams, thus become lucid more easily.

so that's my theory...

**Sensei** · 04-20-2014 02:17 AM

@Conscience
Well it doesn't have to be a whole new environment to change, but that might cause a shift as well... something for me to think about.

provoking thoughts... thank you.

I sometimes just sleep on the couch (if my allergies wake my wife up), and it leads to more aware dreams as well. My odds increase quite a bit of having an LD, even if sleep deprived a little from the allergies.

@OP and Conscience
I have never heard that woman have more LDs than guys. :/ Doesn't make sense, since almost everyone on DV is a dude, and almost every natural that pops in here is a dude as well. That might just be because it is a forum, and forums naturally have more guys than girls.

That being said, when my baby came out I did notice that if I was watching her, I would wake up to every sound in the night, but if it was my wife's time to watch her, I wouldn't wake up to them at all (this happened in the middle of my LDing training as well).