Thread: Question about Reality Checks

Is it more effective to do reality checks whenever I remember, or as a fixed schedule (i.e. alarm every half hour)?

Ive been practicing pinching myself and trying to poke my finger through the palm of my hand whenever I remember (which is very frequently) for about a week now, but I still don't do it in dreams.

Looking at the time and then looking back has shown some progress though, (Ive done it in dreams twice now), thats why I ask, should I turn this into a regular scheduled thing? Or just whenever I remember?

Most people suggest that you make it a habit, do it at least ten times a day or set a digital timer to remind you. However, bringing a waking habit to a dream could take months to do. I've been practicing lucid dreaming for four months now and I've only looked at a clock twice and didn't do a reality check either time.

Pinching yourself is not surefire, because you can be pinched, injured, killed, etc. in a dream so that 'pinch me, I'm dreaming' saying is just a saying. My favorite reality check is to pinch my nose and try to breathe or to close my throat muscles and then try to breathe. This check has caused all my lucid dreams (event though they are few).

Anyway, I believe it's a matter of what works best for each individual. I do checks when I remember or every time I look at a particular item, such as a clock (which could be a RC in itself).

I hope this helps!

That's a good idea to do a RC when looking at a particular item. I've never done that.
I usually do waking RC's when something unusual happens. I tend to have dreams where abnormal things are few and far between so I try to do waking RC's when something out of the ordinary happens so I will do it in my dream too.

I've always used the plug the nose and try to breathe method or putting my finger through the palm of my hand method. Both work equally well for me.

Usually, you should RC whenever you see your dreamsign, but, if you haven't found it yet, I think RCing as much as possible during the day is the best way to get a DILD if you haven't found your dreamsign

I would suggest making it a regular habit i.e. every hour on the hour. The more you do it and the more you get used to doing it, the more likely you are to do it in your dream and become lucid.

Months to get the habit into my dreams you say? Alright no prob I can do it.

Do my RCs as often as possible, eh? Then ill get a DILD? Anyone else bothered by how similar this abbreviation sounds to dildo? Just playing, thanks for the help guys.

Originally Posted by 3_Pound_Universe

Is it more effective to do reality checks whenever I remember, or as a fixed schedule (i.e. alarm every half hour)?

I would say, just from my own experiences, that it's best to check whenever you remember- as soon as you remember. Because the important part of a reality check is that you are thinking enough to remember to do it.

If you aren't thinking enough to remember to check then it's quite possible that you would arrive at the wrong answer to your reality check. Like thinking that battling against space vampires was reality.

On the other hand, if you remember that you are supposed to be checking, you are one step closer to realizing that you're dreaming. Because if you have enough reason to ask the question then the answer is probably "dream".

* everyone else in the world's experiences may vary

Personally I prefer the clock method or pinching my nose works well too