Thread: Best Technique

Welcome to DV! If you need to help falling asleep, some relaxing music could work. Also, if you count your breaths and breathe deeply, it helps to relax your body.

I have this problem as well, and counting makes my brain work to much to sleep. I have to be completely dead with very little neurons firing and in this time I can't remember falling asleep so no lucidity.

Are you talking about falling asleep at the beginning of the night or going back to sleep after waking up in the middle of the night? Each has its own concerns, but for both, the place to start is to really think: what is keeping you awake? Not feeling tired? Distracting thoughts? Uncomfortable bed? External light or sound?

Don't go on your laptop/watch tv before bed or when you get up. Don't do anything that makes your mind go crazy. I find that if I find out about something awesome before I go to bed, all I do it think about it and then I can't sleep. Have a warm bath/shower and read for a little while before you sleep.

What I do, is I just let my daydreaming do everything. I'll visualize a scene, and then just watch as it carries on. Eventually as the scene gets more vivid, I lose consciousness and fall asleep. Some people like to listen to quiet music, count or observe their breathing. Just test stuff and find what works for you.

i found some really relaxing star gazing like musik. You should try it. Its amazing!
The Hydrogen Cafe: Music for Stargazing Vol 1

Originally Posted by sisyphus

Are you talking about falling asleep at the beginning of the night or going back to sleep after waking up in the middle of the night? Each has its own concerns, but for both, the place to start is to really think: what is keeping you awake? Not feeling tired? Distracting thoughts? Uncomfortable bed? External light or sound?

In my opinion everyone has different tolerance levels when trying to sleep, my friends always hated the light my computer gave off when we tried to sleep, whereas I never noticed it. But thinking for me is a distraction when I'm trying to sleep I found myself repeating to myself I was going to have a lucid dream last night and found my mind wandering then going blank before I realized I was supposed to be monologuing to myself and that woke me right back up.

Isn't there that stop drop roll technique? Its only worked with me a few times, however im interested to see if anyone else has tried it, my guess is its unreliable.

I cant post links yet but ill do my best to explain.

Basically it involves something called a roll signal, which is the desire to toss/turn/move about when trying to get to sleep. If the brain sends a roll signal out and doesn't get a response, it assumes its time to go to sleep and will drift off or youll even go into SP... in theory anyway.
So here is what you do:

1. STOP. Relax, lay down on your back and slowly stretch your muscles starting with your arms above your head and working your way down to to your toes.
2. DROP your arms to your sides. DONT MOVE. Let a roll signal (youll be able to feel it coming from your chest in this position) build up until its almost unbearable.
3. ROLL. Roll over onto your side and remain there until asleep... its extremely important not to move... roll signals can be sneaky and get you to move your legs or arms slightly.

I've heard of it, its not easy haha I've tried with no success

I cant even define whether i was just lucky or not to be honest....

Im going to experiment with it more, if i combine relaxation methods, appropriate behaviour before sleep (no heavy entertainment, nictotine, alchohol or drink other than water/milk) then the technique could prove more successful?

i tend to start sleep time with a few minutes of mantras followed by pleasent thoughts of situations in real life and how i would have played them differently or replay good memories anything
that makes you feel good for a few minutes ,then back to mantras and repeat .
i find that trying to keep myself awake in good thoughts or fantasies sends me straight to heavy sleep
keep all worries and bad thoughts for when you wake up for real in the morning