Thread: Just a quick question about reality checks

Is every hour okay? Or should I do it every thirty minutes or every ten minutes? I have been doing it every thirty minutes for about a week now, but I have heard people say an hour and others say 10 minutes.. so which time is right?

That's somewhat tough to call. I've been doing it for years "just whenever", probably half a dozen times a day average.

My reality check bounced last night. I had a false-awakening. I suspected it to be a false awakening (although I don't know why). So I did the pinch-nose-and-breathe thing. I was able to breath. I thought: "Why, I must be dreaming! If I'm dreaming, the wall behind my bed won't be solid" I pushed on the wall, and my fingers sank into it. I thought "that's really weird" and that's the last thing I remember from any dream in that REM cycle.

every hour should be fine, just get into a habit of doing reality tests.

Hi Cancoon2

I'm a newbie here like you.

If I'm correct, you're talking about preplanned reality checks (every hoiur, every day and so); but you may do RCs also when something happens during the day, regardless a plan. For instance, at the beginning of your day, you could establish that you'll do a RC whenever you see a dog and whenever you turn on the light. This is a sort of training for the MILD (Memory Induced Lucid Dreaming).

eXistenZ

ooo I like that idea. Does the thing differ for each day or is it the same each day? I think mine will be whenever I see stairs

They work best if you can identify things that occur in your dreams often (dream signs).

If you notice that you find yourself running in your dreams a lot, then reality check when you are running IRL. Same for opening doors, or like was said, seeing stairs.

Originally posted by goku4ever
ooo I like that idea. Does the thing differ for each day or is it the same each day? I think mine will be whenever I see stairs

You can do RC with your dreamsign, as Seeker said. This technique is to get used to ask yourself whether you're dreaming, when in the dream you see your dreamsign.

And you can also make a list of four objects and actions about which you'll do RC during the day. This second variant is to get used to ask yourself, regardless what is happening in the dream. It is also a method to train yourself in doing actions that you memorized before.

At the end of the day or after an occurrence, you should have a list where hits are recorded, in order to evaluate your ability to remember your task of doing RCs.
LaBerge would suggest for the first day the follwoing four objects and actions:
- When you see a dog
- When you see a flower
- When you see yourself in a mirror
- When you turn on a light

Every day has a different list and the exercise can be continued for at least one week, according to LaBerge.

eXistenZ

The best advice I have herd from RCs is generally do 21 a day, if you really want to lucid dream that is the mark you should be aiming for. And if you do them properly throughout the day it should definetely help here, And if you keep doing that in a routine you should have them soon enough, but like I said I wanted to do research in this area, so we'll see what happens.

perhaps u could try just doing a reality check with one object, then concerntrating on dreaming about that object in relation you your RCs, instead of doing RCs in relation to many situations, which could dampen the effect of when you do Rcs in your dream as its spread out more and less precise. Generally If you can ingrain a precise habit into your subconsious and make it apart of it you will have a very good chance of success.