Thread: How much does your attention span have to do with your ability to WILD/lucid dream, really?

While the connection may seem obvious to some, I very rarely see people talk about attention span when it comes to WILD or DILD. After reading about people's failed WILD attempts, and noticing mine too (both through a long period of time), I realized how sometimes if not often, a huge problem is a short attention span, the inability to maintain focus for longer than a few seconds (especially in that 90% asleep state). We wake up for WILD, get out of bed if we choose to, get back in bed, start an anchor, lose focus every 10-20 seconds, and before we know it we've passed out unconsciously because we could not maintain our attention on staying awake/the anchor. Is it just me, or the inability to maintain focus is a huge obstacle towards WILDing? Should we spend more time improving our attention span/focus (in the hopes that it would help with LDing)?

Hello mimi,

The good majority of my LD's are WILD's. I too had this problem when I was practicing and trying to get the technique down. I noticed the biggest difference when changed my anchor. Everyone is different, and therefore certain anchors will work better than others. I would try out different anchors until you find one that keeps you engaged just enough to not fall into unconsciousness, but not so much to the point that your mind is unable to enter the sleep state.

I am not sure if you experience any HI while attempting a WILD, but if you do, use the anchor to get you to the HI stage upon where you should enter a dream shortly after. I am sure it wouldn't hurt to practice for a few minutes every day with your anchor so as to get your mind on track for your next attempt.

I hope this has helped, and if you have any other questions or wish for a more detailed explanation, just let me know!

Originally Posted by Paradox7

Hello mimi,

The good majority of my LD's are WILD's. I too had this problem when I was practicing and trying to get the technique down. I noticed the biggest difference when changed my anchor. Everyone is different, and therefore certain anchors will work better than others. I would try out different anchors until you find one that keeps you engaged just enough to not fall into unconsciousness, but not so much to the point that your mind is unable to enter the sleep state.

I am not sure if you experience any HI while attempting a WILD, but if you do, use the anchor to get you to the HI stage upon where you should enter a dream shortly after. I am sure it wouldn't hurt to practice for a few minutes every day with your anchor so as to get your mind on track for your next attempt.

I hope this has helped, and if you have any other questions or wish for a more detailed explanation, just let me know!

Thanks for the answers, both, but may I ask what anchor have you tried that proved useful? I'm asking because I also tried countless anchors, all with the same results of passing out unconsciously, most probably due to being unable to stay focused on them.

Originally Posted by mimihigurashi

Thanks for the answers, both, but may I ask what anchor have you tried that proved useful? I'm asking because I also tried countless anchors, all with the same results of passing out unconsciously, most probably due to being unable to stay focused on them.

The most successful anchors I have found are ones that involve a low level of discomfort. BillyBob mentions using these kinds of anchors in his WILD tutorial (I tried to link it to my reply but apparently you have to be registered for 3 days). I didn't particularly have any luck with sleeping on my hand as it caused me too much discomfort. Rather, I cross my fingers in such a way that they will not come undone naturally without the use of deliberate force. This exerts the perfect amount of noticeable discomfort for me, but not so much to the point that it prevents me from relaxing and falling into the dream state.

Originally Posted by Paradox7

The most successful anchors I have found are ones that involve a low level of discomfort. BillyBob mentions using these kinds of anchors in his WILD tutorial (I tried to link it to my reply but apparently you have to be registered for 3 days). I didn't particularly have any luck with sleeping on my hand as it caused me too much discomfort. Rather, I cross my fingers in such a way that they will not come undone naturally without the use of deliberate force. This exerts the perfect amount of noticeable discomfort for me, but not so much to the point that it prevents me from relaxing and falling into the dream state.

Interesting, thanks, I'll look into physical anchors more, 99% of my failed anchors were mental, the only physical one I've tried is the forearm-up one, which I don't understand how I'm supposed to fall asleep while my forearm wakes me up every time but whatever now.

Originally Posted by mimihigurashi

Is it just me, or the inability to maintain focus is a huge obstacle towards WILDing? Should we spend more time improving our attention span/focus (in the hopes that it would help with LDing)?

It isn't just you, Mimi; learning to maintain focus is indeed a huge obstacle for many of us WILD'ers, myself included. But huge as it may be, it is not an insurmountable obstacle.

There are lots of tools, like mantras, MILD techniques, and mindsets that generally prepare us for those attention deficit moments, so we can pull ourselves back into focus during our WILD dives. Indeed, I would suggest that most of the techniques for WILD/DEILD and DILD exist because we're all really bad at paying attention.