Some people say that they have zero dreams when they head to bed. Others have the most vivid visions as soon as they fall asleep. Either way, you generally have zero consciousness or control over what occurs. However, a lucid dream is a gateway to gaining more autonomy over what happens in your head. 

What Are Lucid Dreams?

Lucid dreams entail self-awareness of one’s dream state. Most experienced lucid dreamers or dreamwalkers have the power to alter different aspects of their sleep. Some people also refer to this ability as metacognitive awareness, which means reflecting on one’s mental processes while sleeping. 

Some may stumble upon the experience without even trying, but lucid dreaming is typically done intentionally. And with the rise of social media, more and more people are sharing their experience of getting into the dreamscape.  

Benefits and Downsides of Lucid Dreams

Lucid dreams are a two-sided coin, with their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Some people only experience the perks when they engage in this activity. 

Here are the pros:

• Exercising creativity: Many people find themselves getting creative when they have free rein over the dream world. And if you have great memories, you can take those visions and make them a reality through art, writing and other forms of media. 

• Creating good dream content: Lucid dreaming is often recommended when you’re susceptible to nightmares, since you can alter what’s happening. Slowly change the course of what’s happening in your dreamscape or add more pleasant elements into it. 

• Building a positive waking mood: Fantastic dreams typically mean a good night’s rest and waking up in a fantastic mood. If you’re feeling stressed or just want to be a little more positive in the mornings, lucid dreaming is the key. 

Here are the cons:

• Poor sleeping quality: Lucid dreaming can feel like you’re sleeping lighter, as opposed to that deep sleep where it feels like you’ve blacked out. The sleep quality can feel especially poor when you’re not completely successful in taking over your dreamscape.

• Reality confusion: Dreamwalkers may find it difficult to differentiate between what’s real and fake. It’s why it’s important to have some telltale signs for reality testing. 

• Undesirable lucid dreams: People with a stronger subconscious may hold more influence over your dream than you. Thus, you may alter fewer elements than you’d think and not achieve the ideal fantasy. 

A study on lucid dreaming deduced that most negative outcomes typically stem from failed induction attempts or low dream control. Hence, if you want to experience the perks, you need to aim for absolute dream control and success. 

How to Lucid Dream Tonight

Curious about getting into the practice? Here’s a beginner-friendly guide on how you can try lucid dreaming tonight. 

1. Create a Dream Journal

If you think hard, some dreams repeat themselves or have patterns similar to one another. A dream journal is a great way to keep track of irregular or strange dreams. From there, try to list down dream signs that help you realize you’re dreaming. It could be anything from blurred texts, actions feeling too easy to do or recurring places. 

2. Set Alarm for Your REM Period

The Rapid Eye Movement or REM period is typically one of the best periods for you to gain consciousness while falling back to sleep. Set an alarm to go off after 5 hours of your sleep for this chance. Dreamwalkers typically dub this as the key step for the Waking Back to Bed or WBTB method. 

3. Have a Pre-Sleep Meditation Routine

Going into a lucid dream can be nerve-wracking for some people, which can affect your ability to fall asleep. Consider having a relaxation routine, like meditating, before you head to bed. Some people like to focus on sounds or scents in their room. Aside from lulling them into slumber, it’s also a good way to signal to your brain that you’re letting go of reality. 

4. Recall Your Dream Upon Waking Up

Once your alarm rings and you wake up, close the alarm and close your eyes again. Try to recall the last moment of your dream and get back into it once again. This can take some practice and is simpler if you feel exhausted. However, once you successfully recall it, you should already be hyperaware of the dream.

5. Practice Reality Testing

To ensure it’s a dream and not reality, consider testing different elements of your dream. Checking the clock to see if the arms are wonky is a good telltale sign that you’re in your dream scape. From there, it’s time to manipulate what’s happening in your dream. Try to summon a dessert that you’d like or float off the ground as an exercise. 

6. Have Fail-Safe Methods to Wake Up

If you feel like you’re not in control of your lucid dream, it helps to have a few ways to back up and out. Repeatedly blinking their eyes and focusing on their breathing can help them subconsciously control their actual body. You can also instruct someone you trust to wake you up if you start to sleep talk, which you can trigger by calling out in your sleep. 

Who’s Most Likely to Lucid Dream?

Dreamwalkers come in all forms, each with their own reasons. One of the main reasons is to have some pleasure while you’re still sleeping, as most people tend to get busy during the day. Others also find lucid dreaming as a way to cope with nightmares or situations within their reality, like experiencing loss or misfortune. 

What Is the Most Common Thing to Lucid Dream?

Dreamwalkers can come up with all kinds of things in their lucid dreams. A study found that more than 80% of respondents engaged in flying, sex and other hedonistic activities they deem fun. Others, like students or athletes, try to solve problems and practice their skills. That said, the world is your oyster in the dreamscape, so you can do whatever you wish. 

@doubledltadhd

ive written my dreams down for a few years now and ive had few like this . #dreaming #luciddreams #flying #crazydream

♬ original sound – Dyllon

Get Into a Lucid Dream

It is more than okay to lucid dream if you understand how to do it and have a good grasp of your thoughts and subconscious. If you have a fantasy you’ve wanted to fulfill, practice it slowly and safely. Subscribe to our newsletter for more fascinating content!