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Dreams are marvelous. They are like having a new movie play in your head each night. From romance to action, a riveting script presents itself every single time. Imagine this, you are the main character in these dreams, and you can even control the dream narrative. It sounds super cool, doesn’t it? Well, it is a possibility with lucid dreaming. If you are intrigued, read ahead because we are here to tell you everything about lucid dreaming and even how to lucid dream in this lucid dreaming guide.
Did you know? According to research, at least half the people have experienced lucid dreams at some point in their lives, and approximately 11% have one or two lucid dreams in a month!
Lucid dreaming, also called conscious dreaming, is when you grasp that you are dreaming in the middle of a dream. Here, you can recognize that the events that are taking place in your mind are not happening in reality. But they feel real. When you become aware you are dreaming, you can take control over some elements of the dream and change the narrative, characters, or environment, the way you want.
You may remember the famous movie Inception, which popularised lucid dreaming. Here, the main characters could easily manipulate dreams for their desired outcome. Of course, the movie is a work of fiction, and dream manipulation to such as extent may not be possible. But you can control your dreams to a limit with lucid dreaming.
Want to know how to lucid dream tonight? Well, take a look at the below-mentioned techniques. They are designed to help you become aware of your consciousness even when you fall asleep.
The first step in how to remember dreams is to start with reality checks. It is a mental exercise to enhance metacognition and notice your consciousness. Now, metacognition is when you become aware of your thought process and comprehend the pattern behind them.
Your metacognition levels stay almost the same when you are awake or asleep. So, enhancing its levels when you are awake can also help elevate metacognition levels when you are in deep slumber. If you are wondering how to control your dreams, perform reality checks several times a day. Some of the things you can do include;
As a beginner, perform these reality checks every 2-3 hours. You can also keep an alarm for the same.
To lucid dream, good sleep is essential. Therefore, make sure your bedroom is comfortable. One of the things you can try is to ensure that your room temperature suits you. Generally, the ideal temperature is between 60-67 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, make sure your room is dark and quiet. Switch off all the lights and if you like sleeping with some music in the background, opt for something light and soothing.
One of the popular methods for how to remember dreams is to keep a dream journal. Here, you write down your dreams as soon as you wake up and frequently read the journal as they help recognise dream signs. It also increases your dream awareness. In addition, keeping a dream diary enables you to identify the recurring themes of the dreams, which assists you in lucid dreaming. Finally, make sure you write the next day’s date so that your conscious and subconscious mind works together to remember the dream.
As mentioned earlier, you encounter a recurring dream pattern when you keep a dream journal. You can use this as a trigger to go into lucid dreaming. So, before you fall asleep, tell yourself that you will know you are dreaming the next time you come across that particular dream pattern.
If you are wondering how to have a lucid dream, one method is to wake back to bed or WBTB. If you are looking for tips on how to lucid dream fast, this is it. It is a cycle adjustment technique where you stimulate the body’s natural chemistry to induce a lucid dream. You can try this technique as frequently as possible to master lucid dreaming. Let’s take a look at the procedure.
While you try to sleep again, think about your previous or recurring dream theme or visualize a vivid dream to make it easier.
How to have a lucid dream? You can try the MILD technique!
MILD or mnemonic induction of lucid dreams involves saying affirmations to yourself before you sleep. When you repeat the affirmations several times, it gets stuck in mind, which makes lucid dreaming easier. The steps you need to follow include
The next technique when it comes to how to dream about what you want with lucid dreaming is using WILD or wake-initiated lucid dreaming technique. It is an easy method and can help you achieve lucid dreaming quickly.
Most beginners get very excited at this stage and tend to break the dream. So, make sure you keep yourself relaxed. It is essential when it comes to controlling your dreams.
If you wake up from a dream, go back to sleep for dreaming lucidly. This is one of the easiest lucid dreaming methods. When you wake up from a dream, try to write down everything you remember in the dream journal and immediately go back to bed. Now, when you close your eyes, think about the dream you were having previously. Visualize it well and keep your focus on it.
The power of suggestion is affirmations that you tell yourself throughout the day. Some examples are;
There are apps or YouTube videos you can play that come with guided meditations for lucid dreaming. Some masks and headbands emit light and sounds that induce lucid dreaming. But they can be expensive and not very easily available.
A 2017 study reported that video gaming frequently could help you remember your dreams better. So, if you are looking for ways to lucid dream and you are an avid gamer, use any of the above-mentioned methods. However, ensure you don’t use electronics at least an hour before bed as they can disrupt sleep.
These were some of the best ways to lucid dream. So, if you wanted to know how to lucid dream every night, try any of the above methods. But remember, be patient. Lucid dreaming may take time, but you can trigger it easily with practice.
Now that you know how to practice lucid dreaming, let’s learn the science of lucid dreaming. A lucid dream is a state between sleep and wakefulness. While it is an intriguing experience, scientists are still unclear about how our brain mechanisms differ when compared to regular dreaming.
However, Julian Mutz and Amir-Homayoun Javadi found that during lucid dreaming dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the supramarginal gyrus, the bilateral frontopolar prefrontal cortex, the precuneus, and the inferior parietal lobules show high activity. And these are the areas that are associated with high cognitive function.
If you want to wake up from a lucid dream while you are in the middle of one, you can try the following methods;
Shout In Your Dream: It is believed that when you scream or yell in the dream, it sends a signal to the brain that it is now time to wake up.
Fall Asleep: When you sleep during a lucid dream, you wake up in real life.
Blink: Blinking continually will help your mind get ready to wake up.
Read: When you try to read a book in your dream, it stimulates your brain and you wake up.
Now that you know how to trigger a lucid dream and all the steps to lucid dreaming, let’s understand the benefits it brings you.
If you are someone who suffers from recurrent nightmares, lucid dreaming can help you out. Lucid dreaming therapy can help you reimage your dreams. In a 2017 study, 33 military veterans suffering from recurrent nightmares and PTSD received cognitive behavioural therapy and image reversal therapy with lucid dreaming. It helped them curb their nightmares and reduce stress.
When you lucid dream, you can control the situation of the dream, which makes you feel empowered and can help reduce anxiety.
A study conducted in 2013 showed that when you perform motor skills mentally, it enhances your ability to do them physically. So, people with physical disabilities could use lucid dreaming to practice motor skills.
People who were a part of lucid dreaming studies could come up with new insights and ideas and improve creativity.
Some of the disadvantages of lucid dreaming include;
A few techniques on how to train yourself to lucid dream, such as WBTB can disrupt your sleep as it requires you to wake up in the middle of the night.
When you practice lucid dreaming regularly, it can lead to the derealization of your environment. As a result, it may make it difficult for you to distinguish between reality and a dream.
Lucid dreaming can cause sleep paralysis, which can be unsettling for some people.
If you want to try lucid dreaming, you can use the above techniques. These methods will help train your brain to become more aware of your consciousness while you are asleep. However, be patient. And if you experience any sleep disorders or emotional changes, stop practicing lucid dreaming and visit your doctor immediately.
Lucid dreaming is when you become aware that you are dreaming.
Lucid dreams occur during REM sleep, which occurs approximately 90 minutes after you fall asleep.
It depends on the individual. With practice, you can lucid dreams in a month or so. However, some people are able to do it faster. The trick is to find the technique that suits you best.
In the beginning, lucid dreams last for 10 minutes and as you progress, they can last for an hour.
There are a few downsides to lucid dreaming. It can lead to disturbed sleep or also mental disturbances. Therefore, it is imperative to practice it with caution. You can also speak to a sleep expert or a doctor for more information.
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