What do you think about my plans for Lucid Dreaming?

1. Reality Checks - I already do them regularly. But I always do the nose RC and after that I ask: "Why am I here?" "Where am I?" "How did I get here?"

2. Dream Journal - After I wake up I write my dreams on my phone.

3. Awareness - I need to be more aware of my surroundings.

4. Induction Techniques - I will use an induction techniques for 2 or more weeks and see if it doesn't work, if not I will try another one. I use WBTB with almost all techniques. I'm planning on starting with DEILD / FILD + WBTB.

If you see any issues please tell me, any help would be appreciated. Am I missing something important?

Also I have a question regarding DJ - It seems like when I use WBTB I can't remember my dreams prior to waking up. Would it be a good idea to master dream recall first and then start using it?

I think you can work on everything together. Your dream recall will naturally improve with time.

I write notes in my phone and then put it in the journal on my computer during morning coffee.

Do I need to do different reality checks or one that I'm used to?

Also this:

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Also I have a question regarding DJ - It seems like when I use WBTB I can't remember my dreams prior to waking up. Would it be a good idea to master dream recall first and then start using it?

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I use the hands one or trying to read. It's very discreet so you can practice throughout the day.

I have 3 targets that I pick for the day. So yesterday it was red cars, putting on my shoes, opening laptop. So everytime I did one of those things I would do a RC. Then a reverse RC, so I would think how did I get here? Then play back my actions in reverse order. So I've been at the library for an hour. Trace the route back to my house. Remember what I cooked. Then think is anything out of place?

You can work on lucidity and dream recall at the same time I think. Idk that's what I'm doing. I'm not sure why WBTB would impact your dream recall it should make it better if anything.

Its probably universally agreed that DEILD is the easiest way to enter a lucid dream. Once mastered you will not have to rely on a DILD. Also if you DO get lucid and you feel the dream collapsing then, as a DEILD master you will be able to reenter.

Oh - and you wont have to bother too much with reality checks during the day although you would need to still try to raise your general awareness (mindfulness is great for this)
Ezzo

Mastering dream recall is probably harder than mastering lucid dreaming! If you remember 1 dream per night you're good to go... so I'd recommend you to work on both things altogether.

Also, WILD + DEILD is one of the best combos out there. You can WILD into the first dream and then chain it with DEILDs

WILD is tricky (I am still working on it) but very rewarding I think

Your plans are fine, and don't worry about WBTB dream recalling, it'll come with more experience and even randomly at times, but like he said ^^ 1dream or 2 you're good, even after a WBTB just lay there and think. I use the nose RC also, I find that it works best for me.

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Originally Posted by xArDDe

1. Reality Checks - I already do them regularly. But I always do the nose RC and after that I ask: "Why am I here?" "Where am I?" "How did I get here?"

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RCs alone are one of the mos ineffective practices in my opinion. If you go for DILDs, you might want to train prospective memories. Here on DV there are some good threads on this topic.

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Originally Posted by xArDDe

12. Dream Journal - After I wake up I write my dreams on my phone.

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Originally Posted by xArDDe

13. Awareness - I need to be more aware of my surroundings.

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Total awareness is very overestimated in the context of lucid dreaming in my opinion.

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Originally Posted by xArDDe

14. Induction Techniques - I will use an induction techniques for 2 or more weeks and see if it doesn't work, if not I will try another one. I use WBTB with almost all techniques. I'm planning on starting with DEILD / FILD + WBTB.

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A remark on FILD. You are not oblidged to do this finger trick solely. There are plenty of thing which can help to enter LD after waking up. For example, for me the most successful is to try recreate a feeling that I am rolling from the bed. When the feeling becames real -- I am in dream.

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Originally Posted by xArDDe

If you see any issues please tell me, any help would be appreciated. Am I missing something important?

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As it was said, DEILD is the best method based on efforts/result ratio. Still, if you want DILDs, prospective memory training might be useful.

So will the DIELD tutorial on DV be enough? Do I need reality checks for DEILD? Just have to keep up my DJ and learn DEILD and not bother with other stuff? Is DEILD as vivid as WILD?

I'll just add several suggestions, but what the others said are really great advices!

1. RC at every awakening, especially if doing wake induced methods (DEILD, WILD...) to catch FAs
2. If WBTB reduces your recall this might be due to a too strong alarm... Try a smart alarm app, or use other methods to create / notice awakenings at night (like the drink too much / too little trick to wake up to pee / to drink, or practicing noticing micro-awakenings, or asking a partner to wake you up - whichever option you find comfortable)
3. If it's not about the alarm, and the recall is still lower at WBTB, it's just a matter of practicing dream recall - so just keep DJing and keep a consistent sleep routine

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Originally Posted by xArDDe

So will the DIELD tutorial on DV be enough?

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It is a great DEILD tutorial!

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Do I need reality checks for DEILD?

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Yes, I would advise to RC if you tried to DEILD but it seems to you that you have failed (so basically, if you think you couldn't fall asleep in the DEILD). These things tend to be FAs...

Also, DEILD requires to remain with eyes closed - so reality checks at awakening if you want to DEILD might be an issue to some people. I advice to internally block the breathing and try to breath nevertheless (like in the nose plug RC, but internal).

By the way, moving slightly before starting a DEILD should NOT be a problem if you don't stress about it [see hukif's post here]... Just focus on the previous dream + falling asleep + "it's a dream" (or something similar).

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Just have to keep up my DJ and learn DEILD and not bother with other stuff?

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Recall (DJ), RCs, and awareness are kinda more basic than the DEILD - without them you risk forgetting a successful DEILD, or missing a false awakening, or having a problem maintaining lucidity through the DEILD process, or losing lucidity in the lucid... By practicing the basics at least here-and-there (no need to be over-stressed about them), a failed DEILD is very likely to manifest in the form of a false awakening (catchable by RC) or even a DILD (so you'll just realize out of nowhere "it's a dream").

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Is DEILD as vivid as WILD?

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Vividness is something that is determined by the dream that you get (which is totally random), not the method - so on average they are the same in vividness. To increase the vividness of a dream just take a moment to interact with the dream environment and reaffirm that you're dreaming (what is referred to as "stabilization"). If this doesn't do it, just tell the dream to get more vivid - verbally, or by thinking about it, or by imagining a vividness gun, whatever - be creative until it works. It's your dream, so the only thing that is stopping you from controlling it, is assuming that you can't. You can - you just need to KNOW that you can. :wink:

I literally wrote just "something about dreams i cant really remember more" in my DJ. I go to bed at 11 PM and Wake up at 6:30/7 AM. My dream recall is horrible. Last year I had better dream recall.

Dream recall fluctuates naturally and usually on a daily basis.

For example, tonight I recalled 7 full dreams plus few fragments from an early dream, and a few days ago (~4) I recalled about the same amount. Two nights ago I recalled only fragments from various dreams (no more than from two dreams based on the awakening times). Having no recall rarely happens to me anymore, but sometimes even that happens, and to keep an average recall that I currently keep requires constant practice -

1. most importantly - have a consistent sleep routine
2. recording / writing the dream if possible, or at least memorizing it until you can record it. Even if there is virtually nothing to write, do it anyway!
3. laying in bed after awakenings trying to milk the dream out (if you have a difficulty accessing it)
4. consider including "I'll remember my dreams" in your mantras
5. if you remember fragments you can try go through your dream signs (mentally) - one of them might have been in a dream and might jog some lost memory
6. having more natural awakening will also help - but it's something that might require separate practice.
7. being more aware / lucid in a dream makes it more memorable - but again it's something that might require separate practice too.

These are about all the tricks available - but most importantly is to be consistent. Plus don't even try to do all of them the first night - start from the first few, take baby steps (from experience it's going to give you faster improvement). Don't lay in bed for hours trying to remember - do it for a short time and just move on... Forcing things / over-stressing is not a good idea! The most important things are just be consistent and stay positive.

Good practice!