You can start carefully trying to change the scenery or just to move through the space of your dream. You can start to touch things, and attempt to make small objects appear or disappear.
When you wake up, remember to record the dream. Mark the point at which you realized you were lucid dreaming, and write down all of the things you were and were not able to do. If there’s something you are never able to do when you’re lucid dreaming, such as flying, then ask yourself what’s holding you back.
As you’re flying, don’t be down on yourself or doubt what is possible. If you’re filled with doubt, then you won’t be able to truly fly. If you find yourself lowering, try taking a big hop or a jump and then take off again.
It can help to have an image or a photo of the scenery you’re looking for at your bedside before you go to bed. Make sure it’s one of the last things you look at, so your mind is more ready for the adventure.
Avoid watching violent, scary, or otherwise stressful movies and television shows before going to bed, as these can cause nightmares. [3] X Research source If you want a more restful sleep, turn off all visual stimuli at least half an hour to an hour before bed. That means no phones, no TV, no computer, and nothing else that will make it harder for you to turn your mind off and to have a more restful sleep.
One potential explanation for this finding is that the stress hormone cortisol is released in the early morning, a time in which the night-owls were likely in REM (Rapid Eye Movement), or dream, sleep. [5] X Research source
If you’re serious about having deeper and more pleasant dreams, then you should avoid the caffeine after about noon. You may feel that you need the extra energy, but it’ll make it harder for you to fall asleep. Though you may think that a glass of wine before bed will help you fall asleep, it will actually lead you to have a less restful sleep. And if your sleep is less restful and you want to actually control your dreams, then this will make it harder to do. Avoid sugar close to bedtime as well. Sugar can overstimulate you and keep you awake.
Getting regular exercise can help you ease stress levels, have better dreams, and get to sleep faster. [8] X Research source Don’t exercise too close to bedtime, however, as this can keep you up.
You can also use rose-scented oils, body lotions, or candles. Be sure to blow out the candles before going to sleep, however, to prevent fires.
Upon waking up, ask yourself what you dreamt. Don’t get out of bed immediately, or it’ll be harder to remember what happened. Instead, stay in bed and focus on the details of the dreams. [12] X Research source Part of the reason people “forget” their dreams is because they wake up and immediately begin thinking about other things. Get in the habit of asking yourself this question every single morning. Write down your dreams. Do this immediately after you wake up, and keep a journal and pen at your bedside so that you can quickly write down your dreams before you forget them. This will also help you notice your dream patterns over time. [13] X Research source Make sure to keep the lights dim and to stay in bed while you write the dreams down. Staying in the twilight state will help you to remember more of the dreams you have.
Try to fly. Obviously, this will only work in a dream. [16] X Research source Look at your reflection in the mirror. If your reflection is distorted, blurry, or not there, then you are probably dreaming. [17] X Research source Try to read a clock. The image will be too blurry to read in a dream. [18] X Research source Flick the light switches on and off. Light switches do not work in the dream world. Also, see if you can turn the lights on and off with your mind. If you can, then you know you’re dreaming. Look at your hands. Check to see if they look normal from close-up. If you’re dreaming, then you might have less or more fingers than normal. Try using an electronic device. Computers and telephones do not work properly in dreams. . See if you can “breathe” while closing your mouth and nose. If you can, then you’re dreaming. Try to put an item, such as a pencil, through your hand, (the palm). If you are dreaming, the pencil will either go through inexplicably or hang in the air around your hand. If you aren’t you’ll get a graphite mark on your hand. Try to read something. In most dreams, the words will be inconsistent and random.
Once you recognize one of the dream signs in your dream, you can tell yourself that you are, in fact, dreaming.
Don’t play violent video games before going to bed, as these can provoke nightmares. Make sure you stop playing them at least an hour before bed if you want to try this technique.
Cherries Oats Almonds Sunflower seeds Flax seeds Radishes Rice Tomatoes Bananas White mustard Black mustard
Asking yourself whether you’re dreaming or not can heighten your alertness, which will also make you more likely to lucid dream.
Meditation will also help you clear your mind of all of the negativity that will keep you from having a restful sleep.
Pay attention to the sensations of breathing and walking around in this dreamscape. Though you are not yet dreaming, tell yourself “I’m in a dream. " Continue this visualization technique until you have fallen asleep. Choose your ideal location for optimal results.
Taking this measure can prime you to dream about the things you want to dream about because it will plant the kernel of these things in your mind before you go to sleep.
When you go to bed at night, tell yourself that you will remember your dreams. Focus on realizing when you’re dreaming, and also on remembering that it is a dream. Imagine what you want to do during that dream, whether it’s flying or dancing. Repeat the last two steps of realizing when you’re dreaming and reentering a dream until you actually fall asleep. Continue using this technique until you are able to make yourself have lucid dreams.
If you think about this intensely enough, write it down, and even say it aloud, then you may be able to reprogram the way your mind approaches the dream.
