Thread: How to do reality checks when static throughout the day

Due to the nature of my job, I'm often positioned in one spot for the whole day. Because of this, I don't know how to approach reality checking and mindfulness in general.

If I've already done a RC and thoroughly questioned my state of mind and my surroundings, what do I do twenty minutes later or so when I'm still standing or sitting in the exact same place? I remember I've already done a RC, but there's always a chance I could have fallen asleep since then, or that performing the RC was a false memory.

So I wonder if I should just RC check constantly under the aforementioned assumptions. Performing proper RCs can be mentally draining though, so I don't know where to draw the line between being consistent with them and doing them too often.

I don't want to start assuming I'm not dreaming, but when I've been questioning reality non-stop for the past eight or more hours I feel like I need a way to build on the continuity of the RCs/mindfulness exercises I've already done without having to strain myself mentally so much.

My question might not make as much sense as I think it does, so let me know if there's anything I need to clarify. Any responses would be appreciated.

It doesn't matter where you are or whether you move or not. You can feel the reality anytime and anywhere.
Try to make it your advantage. Since you spend a lot of time in one spot, the chance of having dreams about it is very high. For example I dream often about my university when I have a lot of lectures that day. Try to connect that place with your dream check as much as possible. Remember that this place will appear most probably in one of your dreams before falling asleep.

Originally Posted by Hitokage

Since you spend a lot of time in one spot, the chance of having dreams about it is very high.

This is true to an extent, but dreams do tend to engage our senses. So if the activity is something like sitting in front of a monitor, for example, they probably aren't going to have many dreams about staring at monitors because that activity is just not interactive enough.

In answer to the question, no matter what you do, I'm sure that there's something that happens once every 30-90 minutes that you can use to trigger a reality check. If your'e on a computer, it could be something like checking your email, signing onto a website you frequent, seeing your desktop background, checking the time, or even getting up to use the bathroom. If it's something else, there are probably even more possibilities. You can train yourself to do a RC in response to just about anything that happens routinely.

I agree that it isn't a good idea to do a RC by merely thinking "I remember doing one a few minutes ago and I wasn't dreaming then." This is bad practice, not necessarily because you might be remembering a false RC, but because it doesn't require enough awareness. That said, doing an RC shouldn't require too much effort, and shouldn't take more than a second or two once you've gotten used to it.

hey probably aren't going to have many dreams about staring at monitors

Yea I meant more the place than the activity.

Being static is not a hindrance I think to heightened awareness. After all, seated meditation is done also by staying in one place in order to focus on your thoughts. Just practice becoming aware, and being aware of your awareness. Try to hold this for longer and longer periods, over time you'll be able to stay in this aware mode longer and longer.