It seems like if I ever want hope of dreaming what I want to dream about, I'd better not have thoughts of it anywhere in my conscious brain before bedtime. For example, if I think "maybe tonight I'll dream about my cat", then that pretty much guarantees that I will NOT dream about my cat, and pretty much everything BUT my cat. This goes for everything, including the intention to have a lucid dream.

About a week ago I had a successful DILD during an afternoon nap, because earlier that day I had been doing thoughtful reality checks during crucial moments, but also because I just wanted to rest on the couch and had no thoughts of falling asleep, let alone wondering if my reality checks would work this time. Usually I over-think this stuff when I'm about to go to bed at night, even when I try not to, and get no lucid dreams.

How am I supposed to combat this to have DILDs? I'm saving WILDs for the weekends when I'm more free to meddle with my sleep schedule.