Am I on the right track? Where can I improve?

Hello Everyone.

I Have been interested in Lucid Dreaming for some time now but only ever had a couple of experiences in a few years.

I have tried a couple of times but always failed and given up.

But this time is different I want to experience lucid dreams regularly and will do whatever it takes.

I just need some re-assurance that I am on the right track and if there is anything I should change in my routine to help things along.

So far I do the following.

• Dream Journal - I recall my dreams regularly, at least one dream a night gets recorded in as much detail as possible
  
• Reality checks - I perform as many reality checks as I can during the day. I hold my hands up and count my fingers asking to myself "am I dreaming?" (Should I be telling myself "I AM dreaming?")
  
• Prospective memory techniques - Using Laberge's techniques I find 4-5 things to remember throughout the day (Phone ringing, See a bird, See a certain vehicle, turn on a light etc....) When I see it I make a mental note and perform a realty check
  
• Plenty of sleep - I have started going to bed earlier, I used to be one of those people who would stay up till around midnight on my computer or Ipad before going to bed, I have recently started hitting the hay a lot earlier to increase my REM sleep periods and just have healthier sleep in general
  
• WBTB - I am trying to work with WBTB I currently go to bed at 10:30 and set my alarm for 4:00 then when I wake up I sit up. have a drink and think about LD for some time and try and focus on having a Lucid dream. Then after 10-15 minutes I go back to bed..... And this is where I struggle.
  I have tried MILD constantly repeating over and over and over in my head "I will realise that I am dreaming" while visualising myself reality checking... But then I fall asleep and then nothing happens till I wake up.
  I have tried WILD a couple of times also. But after relaxing my body and becoming numb, nothing seems to happen. very Little hypnogogic imagery to focus on or carry me off. Every so often I will feel like I am floating above my bed but never get much further, I have no fear of Sleep Paralysis I just lay there focusing on my breathing and staring into the back of my eyelids.
  I have also experimented with FILD, I seem to have more luck with FILD but I always seem to have a false awakening instead and forget to RC

Am I doing everything right? Is it just a case of practicing more and more until I get it down?

Is there anything you can suggest that I do to help? Can you see anything glaringly obvious in my routine that would be causing me problems? Where any of you in a similar situation recently and had a breakthrough?

Many thanks in advance for all your help.

For how long have you been practicing these techniques?

I know the struggle, I've been dealing with the same problems for a long time, sometimes it gets really frustrating, but when I see the progress over the time I'm thankful to myself for not giving up. :)
Keep being consistent about dream journaling, at least one dream per night is good! Your recall will become only better.
Chose one or maybe two dream inducing techniques (those who suit you the best) and stick to them. Don't change your technique every night, do not give up if you don't see a big progress after the first couple of times. For example, keep doing DILD (RC, all day awareness) and while taking naps keep trying WILD or FILD (which I, personally, find easier and more effective than the usual WILD).
But if you don't like WILD and its variations, then don't force yourself to do it only because it is effective for others. As I said, find a tehcnique that feels the most comfortable for you and keep practicing it.

Also remember - trying too hard to dream won't give any impressive results. Try to take it easy, maybe take a break from time to time for a day or two but don't give up. Remind yourself why do you want to do it.

Good luck!

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

I have been trying on and off for a couple of years.

But i dont think i have ever given as much effort as i am now.

I think what i might do is spend a couple of weeks on each technique.

Starting with MILD combined with WBTB i will keep setting my intentions and tell myself "i will realise that i am dreaming" and "i will perform a reality check" while visualising the check.

Hopefully i will get further in my journey.

Yes you are doing everything right I think. You just need to keep it up and don't give up.
Make some goals you wanna achieve in your dreams and try to reach them one by one. You need to feel the enthusiasm for LD.

Thank you!

Im trying to remain super positive. Even when i fail to LD my dream recall is becoming much greater. And my dreams are much more vivid! I felt like i was writing an essay in my dream journal this morning after writing down all the details i remember if my dream!

if your recall is great then try replaying your previous dream as you get ready to go to sleep

suppose you dreamed you were in a car and you saw a huge accident, then latter you realized your breaks wern't working, then latter you were on a mountain skiing. replay the dream but at each weird point imagine that you are in the dream and questioning it. you see the accident, and think of yourself thinking I wonder if this is a dream, then imagine yourself reality checking. Then skip ahead to the next weird event the brakes aren't working, think to youself maybe this is a dream, and reality check (in this case something like a glottal stop, so next time in real life when your breaks go out you don't take your hands off the wheel) each time immagine that you realize your dreaming, and think what would I do to stabilize what would I set as goals in this situation (remembering what opportunities were around you) then skip to the skiing or what ever and as you imagine being in the dream, ask yourself how did I get here where was I a few min ago, maybe this is a dream.

but doing this you will learn to question reality when anything you had in the dream should have made you question it.

Then if something similar happens you might become lucid

So how did you get on 1 year later? Are you getting regular LD's using your methods, did you quit?

Thanks again for the replies.

Yes im ashamed to say that last year i tried and quit. I didnt get anywhere and it felt like too much effort at the time.

This time is different. RC have become almost natural now. As well as dream journaling. My sleeping times are better and im all together just in a better place to undertake the journey.

So this time i will crack it. (Positive thoughts!)

I have had a handful of lucid dreams before and multiple false awakenings

Your routine sounds good and I think MILD with WBTB is the best way to get Lucid.
One thing you should try (as simple as it sounds) is after WBTB when you're doing your MILD, lay on your back!
Try to falll to sleep on your back, if I turn on my side I will hardly ever get Lucid from MILD, on my back however it works every time.