I read every night in bed... it's the only peaceful reading time available. I read until drowsy - which usually takes fifteen minutes to a half hour... then out like a light.

The more tired I am, the more difficult it is for me to recall dreams. I've found it essential to be careful about getting adequate sleep if there is any hope for me to achieve lucidity.

A couple thoughts from times in my life when sleeping wasn't so easy.

Are you getting adequate physical exercise? Are you sleeping too much once you do fall asleep? Are you using any substances or meds that could be affecting you? Is your overall physical health good? Is your bed comfortable and in a peaceful place?

How's your mind? Are you troubled by circumstances in your life? Angry? Worried? What is your mind doing when you wish to sleep?

I've found that the quality of my life and how I'm living is directly reflected in how I sleep at night. I'm not saying this is the case with you, but it bears looking at. The more at peace I am, the better my sleep is. If something is bothering me, I need to address it as quickly as possible or risk my sleep.

The Serenity Prayer is useful to me in all cases. (Whether you believe in God or not isn't terribly important to the gist of the prayer. This comes out of Alcoholics Anonymous, not any particular religion

God grand me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
Courage to change the things I can
And the wisdom to know the difference.

The abreviated version of this prayer, by the way, is "F&^k it."

Works for me. Good luck!