Thinking about things before falling asleep

[MHT]

Hey guys, I'm new on this forum but I've been reading posts for a while now. English isn't my main language, sorry if I make mistakes. Ok let's get to my topic. Before I heard about lucid dreaming I liked thinking about stuff while I was lying in my bed. At that time I used to think about what I'm gonna do in the future or how I'll deal with some situation or other random thoughts. Unfortunately I can't do that anymore because of I want to achieve lucid dreams with the induction techniques. Are there members like me who also like thinking about stuff before falling asleep? How do you deal with this problem? If I really want to lucid dream do I have to give up that habit? What do you think?

[MattBrad]

I personally would find a different time to think. Maybe take a bath before bed or a shower. Or you could try a ld technique where you Wake up in the middle of the night to initiate it and you could think normally while going to bed. Just some suggestion, good luck!

[Meskhetyw]

It depends on the person and how good your prospective memory is. If you are the type of person that can "set" an internal alarm clock without fail and rather easily, then this may be all you need to MILD. Simply do your visualization a few times, drive your stake in (set your intention), and then think about whatever you want. If this does not bring satisfactory results, then you should probably do the whole procedure, mantra and all, or use other techniques during the day instead of the mantra. Personally I never use mantra unless I am performing a WILD, though it is less like a mantra and more like focus. Good self-awareness, "state awareness", and intention is enough for me personally in the case of DILD. It will take some time to work out what works best for you, but be honest with yourself and don't be lazy. I wasted a few years being stubborn like that.

[JadeGreen]

I know what your talking about; because I experience it. Some guides to lucid dreaming and induction techniques say that you should be thinking about lucid dreaming as you drift off to sleep in order to become lucid. I used to think that this was the case as well, but then I realized there is no point to it. If you try to fall asleep while staying awake and thinking about lucid dreaming your essentially trying to WILD from a waking state. Not only that but it's somewhat impossible. You have to let go of consciousness and therefore let your mind wander in order to fall asleep. That's kindof what sleeping is. So don't try to keep your mind awake thinking about lucid dreaming, because it leads to insomnia. And frustration. If you think that not thinking about lucid dreaming as your falling asleep will mean that you won't lucid dream, then it won't. Remember lucid dreaming is a mental thing; it's all in your head. So you can sort of have a strategy that before bed, you get mentally prepared to lucid dream. (You know, thinking about yourself becoming lucid in your dream, then stabilizing and then going on to do what you want in the dream.) But then, in a very calm, controlled way once your confident you've done all your can, and your mentally prepared to lucid dream, you can let go of those thoughts and think about whatever you want as you fall asleep.