I think I may be using Dreams as an escape from my real life.[/b]
First of all, I believe the most important thing here is to really ask yourself what "real life" actually means for you. People use that term as though dreaming were not part of a "real life". I have certainly never heard of a fake life. Correction: Yes I have actually...people who are not self aware usually live "fake" lives. Those people who listen to others who tell them they need to "get a life" and stop being so fantasy oriented.

Really consider this. What is it that you could be doing better? Perhaps you are doing just fine. Perhaps not. You say that you "know" something is wrong. If that is the case, then you need to find out exactly what that thing is. Just make sure you are not following the collective majority view of what constitutes a "life". I cannot stress this enough. The blind leading the blind seems to be the most major flaw of humanity.

In the end, you may be correct; perhaps you need to be awake more, perhaps not. There is no right answer one can give you. Most days I sleep ten hours; sometimes 6. I do whatever I want when I can. Life is too short to listen to the "experts" on all things unknown. I mean, isn't that a contradiction?