Thread: Keep on falling asleep when attempting recall

Well, if you are having trouble falling asleep, that will effect recall more than getting up a bit would.

A lot of things in LDing (and life) are about balance and sacrifice. You might sacrifice a little recall initially by getting up, but it might pay off in the end. I, for instance, get up and go to the bathroom any time I wake during the night and write down a few dreams there. If I can't remember anything then I turn the light off and close my eyes there trying to remember. There is a certain level of awake, aware, and asleep that you want to be when going back to sleep from a WBTB, so I try to hit that more than worry about recall. Later in the night, it is more likely that I won't be able to sleep and less likely that I will forget dreams, so I leave my DJ by my bed and write it down there, unless I am worried I won't be able to get back to sleep, then I just wake up and go back to sleep, because even a tiny WBTB is amazing for awareness and recall.

Basically! You have to learn what works for you and how well it works. I recommend this:
http://www.dreamviews.com/dream-sign...j-v-1-5-a.html
Make sure to read the links before watching the video!

With time, your recall muscles also get better and better and you can usually recall quickly and efficiently. Lots of people don't even write anything down at all, while others wait until the end of the night to begin writing until the morning.

Originally Posted by Erasonal

Hey guys, so a new problem that has been happening to me is falling asleep when recalling dreams. The alarm goes off, I quickly go back into my previous sleeping position, and although I try not to, I doze back off.

Another thread said that you should wake yourself up first (sitting up, flexing muscles, etc.). But wouldn't this ruin your recall? Many others say that you should return to your sleeping position, and recall ASAP. Can anybody please help? Thanks.

I am experiencing the exact same thing but I am going to work on it. I am so tired when I wake up I don't have the enthusiasm to journal or WILD but now I am focused and committed to doing it again I will do way better. I will be recording in the intro class journal. Maybe talk to you there?

Thank you both if you for your responses. Once again, you have helped me again Sensei.
And DannyCool, what/where is this intro class journal? I have not used Dreamviews' journal feature yet, I use a physical journal.

Intro Class

Falling asleep while recalling dreams is not a bad thing! This is a great path to DEILD...

FryingMan, you have a point. And DannyCool, thanks for the link. I've never heard of DV Academy before, would you mind explaining it?

Originally Posted by Erasonal

FryingMan, you have a point. And DannyCool, thanks for the link. I've never heard of DV Academy before, would you mind explaining it?

Choose which tutorial you want. Follow the instructions. Get support from others.

I have done two so far. Dream Yoga and Intro Class. I want to stay in Intro Class until I get a few lucids together.

Oh yes and start a workbook in the class you choose. This just simply means starting your own thread on the page. For example DannyCool's Workbook thread. Then you follow the instructions and guidance at the top of the page to support your workbook on whatever you are focusing on.

Thank you, I think I will do that

Bit of an old thread but my take on it is if I fall back asleep, I needed the sleep. When I have got enough sleep, then I will not have the "problem" of falling back asleep. Falling back asleep really isn't a "problem" because sleep is important. So I think the place to start for addressing this is to make sure I get enough sleep. Then, when I have enough energy, I will awake from a dream and think through it and get up to write it and then lay back down to sleep again. But if I still haven't slept enough, I will accept that I needed more sleep. Usually I wake up something like 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, etc (if I sleep longer) hours after I initially go to sleep. The first two times I have to pee the most so that forces me up but I am a bit too groggy to get a full recall. But then after its been 5 or 6 hours since I went to bed, I am awake enough to think through the dream and write it, but still ready to sleep more once I get back to bed.

Another aspect of this is addressing exertion exhaustion habits during the day. I found that when I meditated more during the day, I wasn't as exhausted throughout the night, meaning I would awaken from dreams with more energy to recall them, still being able to get back to sleep.

The thread was still on the first page so I figured why not add my current thoughts about the subject. I think I have had a tendency to get mad at myself in the past for falling back to sleep, which is why I wanted to write from my new perspective, which is more accepting of my sleep needs during the night. I don't see it as "laziness" to fall back asleep. In fact, I don't believe in the concept of "laziness". What most people call "laziness" is actually mis-naming "exhausted" or "sleep deprived", and in a very shaming and harmful way at that. I think the world would be a better place if when someone showed they were tired, people stopped saying "get off your lazy butt" or "dont be so lazy" and instead said, "hey, it looks like you need some rest. Why don't you go lay down?" The world will still be here when you wake up, but you won't be half asleep any more because you will be fully rested.

So the answer to fatigue problems isn't to fight the fatigue by "working harder". That comes from a misunderstanding. Go get some rest, and then there won't be fatigue. There might be some initial grogginess after resting, which could be mistaken that the rest was a bad thing. But actually grogginess is natural and just a transitional phase to having normal energy levels once again.