How do I know if I actually went into stages 1 and 2 sleep?

[xdream]

Recently when I have taken 20 minute or so naps but I'm not sure if I actually fell asleep or simply fell into some between state. First, I have some HH, then my ears start relaxing for about a second, then not relaxing for 2 seconds, then this repeats for a few minutes or so. Eventually I get into this state where my whole body feels a bit like my ears did, but in general my thoughts are slowed and generally less conscious, Generally I do not control them or think about my actual body. Eventually I start to think consciously and I start to become more alert, and I get up. Is it likely that I am actually sleeping or just lying there in some near-sleep state?

[dutchraptor]

Sounds more like a semi sleep meditation state. Seeing as you never really entered a rem or nrem I dont think you slept.

[melanieb]

I would tend to agree with dutchraptor above. 20 minutes is barely enough time to fall alseep, particularly if you're not extremely tired. Entering deeper sleep can take some time if your body isn't overwhelmingly tired. If you don't really need the naps it might be better to save your rest period for later. You are more likely to have deeper sleep, decent dreams and a better shot at lucidity from a longer sleep period. If you need the naps to get through your day allow them to be atempts at rest and not an effort to dream. You'll have better luck during a longer rest period. Happy dreaming!

[OctoberWind]

As melanieb said, if you need naps to regain energy, don't see them as an attempt to dream. Any "nap" exceeding 30 minutes will only result in you feeling even more exhausted, and I hardly see 30 minutes as enough to get a decent dream in. The danger with naps, though, is that if you have them too late in the day it becomes harder to fall asleep at night. I would suggest not taking any naps after 5pm. You just seemed to be dozing off (same thing described by dutchraptor just different wording) ^^