What if you don't sleep alone?

[Robot_Butler]

I just recently decided to get back into LD after a long break. The problem is, I now live with my girlfriend, and no longer sleep alone. My old routine had me sleeping with the light on, using multiple alarms, waking 2-3 times a night, keeping weird sleeping hours, ect. I am trying to come up with a new routine that will not disturb the lady too much. Any tips on not driving your partner crazy?

[pj]

A lot of us here are married or have "significant others." Sleeping with my wifeling really doesn't change anything for me, but I wake up several times each night naturally. This leaves easy opportunities for MILD and WILD, and if I get up for a little bit even adds WBTB to enhance the chances. There is one person here who uses a vibrating cell phone as an alarm, then gets up and goes back to sleep on the couch while WILDING. (It certainly helps if you have an understanding partner.) I'm sure others will chime in.

[Adam]

I told my girlfriend at the time about lucid dreaming and she was cool with it. Does your partner know about it?

[Clairity]

Robot_Butler, I believe I'm the person pj was referring to who goes to sleep on the couch when trying to WILD.. only I don't use a cell phone. If you have to share quarters and you think "vibrations" would wake you.. I highly recommend getting an "Invisible Clock". This small clock can be set to vibrate or beep or both. There are three vibration levels and you can set up to 12 alarms! I often use the vibration setting on the highest level, wrap the small clock in a face towel and simply lay the clock so that it's pressed against my body. The vibration isn't "jarring" and another plus to a vibrating clock is that it doesn't disturb anyone else when it goes off (not even my husband who is laying right next to me)! Below is one of the websites that sell the Invisible clock: http://www.buddhasplace.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=IC101&Catego ry_Code=Clocks Now I have to say that the vibrations won't knock you out of bed. But what I have done in the past was to either hold it in my hand while I slept or lay my hand on top of it as my hand rested under my pillow (if that makes sense) while I slept.. but with these methods you run the risk of waking up wondering where the heck it is. That's why I just put it in a face towel and lay it pressed against me while I sleep. I can't predict if the vibration will be strong enough for you but you could always try it and return it if it didn't meet your needs. Oh, and welcome to Dream Views!

[Robot_Butler]

I like the vibrating alarm idea. I'll give that a try with my cell phone. I may also try moving to the couch / a different bed halfway through the night. That may disturb things enough to create some strange false wakeups. And yes, I've been trying to get my girlfriend into active dreaming for about 10 years now. I even used to do teach it semi professionally. She has absolutely no interest. The cobbler's children have no shoes, right? Thanks for the advice, hope it works.

[Clairity]

I may also try moving to the couch / a different bed halfway through the night. That may disturb things enough to create some strange false wakeups. It works pretty well for me (click my sig for my WILD technique). And yes, I've been trying to get my girlfriend into active dreaming for about 10 years now. I even used to do teach it semi professionally. Wow.. it's great to have a knowledgeable lucid dreamer join the forum! I look forward to reading about your experiences!

[Abra]

I'm unsure of the effectiveness of vibrating alarms. I heard that, when sleeping, the sense of touch is the least affected by external stimulus... During REM, at least. They've never woken me up before. I sleep with other people in the room occasionally. They are heavier sleepers than I. I can whip around and shut off my alarm in less than two seconds without waking them. But I guess I'm just lucky. <3

[Citizen]

Wait you used to teach it?! That's actually a career option?! lol Awesome!