I tried the alarm thing for 2 weeks, but they either jolt me awake, or don't wake me up at all. Being jolted awake isn't so much an issue except that I find I can't recall anything when that happens. I'm a pretty heavy sleeper unfortunately. I tried messing with the settings but I can't seem to find one which wakes me up 'nicely'.
From what you describe, you might not have the most optimized sleep schedule (but who does, right ?). Ideally you want to be waking up by yourself which for sure will result in at least minimal recall. Sadly this might mean at first that you wake up sort of harshly by the alarm, but it's the most direct way to define your sleep routine. There's also a second reason as to why I'm insisting on this: better awakenings might also mean better recall of awakenings during the night. And those moments can serve as natural WBTBs or recall opportunities.
Is there a fool-proof(ish) RC I can start doing regularly which will work in my dreams? I mean, I try to remain aware of my surroundings and my waking state as much as possible, but it would be nice to have something specific to zone in on.
Are you saying that this occurrence of reality checks failing within your dreams is common? Because if such, then you're way closer than you think. Let me develop:
Reality checks are in themselves actions (hopefully) associated with specific cues. In dreams, we either do them randomly (force of habit) or because there's an element that made us suspicious. In your case, whatever the reason, you're exhibiting the desired behavior, but you're missing the crucial part: linking the action to lucidity.
Assume that every reality check is a confirmation, not a question: you're reality checking to assert that you are indeed dreaming, not to check if you are dreaming. This makes a huge difference, because if you assume downright from the start that you are dreaming, then a reality check falling won't deter you from questioning your reality. Personally, any time I reality check I become lucid, because the act in itself is too strong and meaningful to make me forget the possibility that I am dreaming. If several of them fail, I'll still be highly alert in the next minutes. How can you achieve this? Slower reality checks with more rationalization beat fast reality checks with high automaticity (aka, doing them in a mechanical way). Remember, it's impossible for you to reality check in face of 100% of the cues, all you want to do is make the habit stick so it starts showing up in your dreams. So make the events memorable instead of plenty and even if your reality checks fail, you'll still be focused enough to become lucid.
I mean, I try to remain aware of my surroundings and my waking state as much as possible, but it would be nice to have something specific to zone in on.
I know what you mean ^^ You can always try the DIPE system (its explanation starts in the middle of that post), which is designed around the concept of universal dream signs (meaning, things that can happen in any of your dreams, giving you specific things to look out for), it has worked out great for me back then.
|
|
Bookmarks