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How to stay in a lucid dream for longer?
After weeks of practicing, you are FINALLY able to lucid dream… fooor 5 seconds.
Nothing is more annoying than putting time and effort to become lucid in your dream, and then to wake up within seconds.
Luckily, I will share with you 15 ways to that will teach you how to STAY in a lucid dream, for longer!
The methods will simply prevent unanticipated awakenings from lucid dreams.
At the end of this article, you will know –
exactly how to stabilize and how to lucid dream longer, up to 30 minutes!
Let’s begin! We will go through:
How long do lucid dreams last?
How to recognize if your lucid dream starts to end?
How to make your lucid dreams last longer: 15 prolonging techniques
A few important notes
Final words
How long do lucid dreams last?
The length of a normal dream can vary. It can last from a few seconds to a few minutes, at the first hours of the night.
Whereas in the morning hours, before waking up, the dreams can last up to 20-30 minutes to an hour long!
Furthermore, a lucid dream is still a DREAM, right?
In truth, It is hard to detect the exact time of a dream. After all, normal dreams feel much longer than they actually are.
The same goes for lucid dreams.
By following the tips from below, you will be able to prolong your lucid dreams to 15-20 minutes, on average.
And don’t forget that this 15 minutes in a dream will definitely differ from 15 minutes in real life.
You will often feel like you have been dreaming for a few hours.
Can you extend your lucid dreams?
Yes, you can, and now, I will teach you how!
However, know that first, you need to learn HOW to become LUCID in a dream.
I have tons of articles, that are ALL for free, and available at any time. You can learn how to lucid dream by following some of the following guides:
When you learn how to lucid dream, the next step is to work on how to stay lucid for longer.
If you are consistent, you will be able to prolong your lucid dreams for long 20-30 minutes!
How to recognize If your lucid dream starts to end?
1) The first sign is usually a loss of color and realism in visual imagery.
Usually, then the lucid dream starts to end and you feel that you are losing control, the color will start to fade.
Furthermore is the realism, where you will feel that the visual imagery starts to disappear.
2) Another sign is the details.
The dream will become much more plain and blurry, it may even look washed out.
3) Regularly, all of this happens very fast, within a few seconds.
The dream can wash out so much that nothing will be left there.
How to stay in a lucid dream for LONGER: 15 ways
1. Spinning around
This method has been observed from the Lucidity Institute and by Stephen LaBerge.
After the tests they concluded that spinning in the dream is remarkably efficient in providing lucid dreams of awakening, thereby stopping unanticipated awakening.
Spinning reduce the possibility of awakening, but how?
A few factors, perhaps, are involved.
The first might be neurophysiological.
The feelings of movement while dream spinning is as vivid as those during an actual physical movement.
Furthermore, is possible that the same brain functions are activated to a similar degree in both cases.
An interesting likelihood is that by stimulating these functions of the brain aids the activity of the nearby parts of the REM- sleep system.
Neuroscientists have obtained proof of the relationship of the vestibular system in the production of the rapid-eye-movement in REM sleep.
The second possible reason is that if the brain is fully engaged in producing the vivid, conscious experience of spinning, it will be harder to form an opposite sensation, such as lying motionless in bed.
Furthermore, Stephen LaBerge, a psychophysiologist specialized in the scientific study of lucid dreaming declares that the technique works as:
– as a way to bring more awareness to your dream body
– to prolong your lucid dream
Another plus of the technique is that if you want to change the dream scene, spinning around will do the work!
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO:
1) So if you are in a lucid dream and it starts to fade, start to spin around.
2) Do it as fast as possible, like a top.
It is highly probable to feel a strong sensation of a change (of the dream scene).
3) The dream will begin to fade even more, but you will still be in the dream world.
The fading is indicating that you are creating a new dream scene.
It is in a way a method that teleports you to a new dream location.
There is also a possibility TO DREAM that you are awake (false-awakening).
4) Be sure that you repeat to yourself “The next scene will be a dream.“
Furthermore, you may DREAM that you are awake in your bedroom. If you dream that you are awake, do a reality check.
This will ensure if it is a false-awakening, or if you really wake up.
2. Looking at the ground
Furthermore, it is essential to mention that the body isn’t the only relatively stable reference point in the dream.
Another one is the ground underneath the dreamer’s feet!
The idea is based basically on focusing on something in the dream in order to prevent awakening.
This approach has occurred to several lucid dreamers researchers, separately.
It is actually one of the earliest and firstly proposed methods for stabilizing lucid dreams – to look at the ground.
It was described by the German physician – Harold von Moers-Messmer in 1938.
He was one of the few researchers who individually studied lucid dreaming in the first half of the 20th century.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO:
1) This is a technique, where you use your vision to stabilize your dream.
So, at the moment when you become lucid and the dream feels ”shakey”, immediately look down at the ground.
2) Be concentrated on the image of remaining in the dream world.
3) If you feel more stable, try to look around, to the sky or the landscape.
Every time you feel the dream unstable, repeat the process of staring at the ground.
3. Looking at your hand
The idea is based on the same principle as the one before (looking at the ground).
Carlos Castaneda stands behind this simple trick!
G. Scott Sparrow – a clinical psychologist and author of Lucid Dreaming: Dawning Of The Clear Light, discusses Carlos Castaneda’s famous technique of looking at his hands.
The technique works as a great way of stabilizing your lucid dream.
Sparrow claims that the dreamer’s body gives one of the most unchanging elements in the dream, which can aid to stabilize the dream.
What is more, this technique is a good way of becoming lucid too, in the first place.
The very essential step is to do this throughout your days, too.
That will result in habitually doing the same action in your dreams.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO:
1) As the looking at the ground technique, you again use your vision to maintain your dream.
But there is a small difference.
Remember, where I mentioned how the dream scene will change significantly fast and you will start to lose the dream?
Maybe even the ground under your feet will disappear and you will float around.
So, how can you focus on something that it is not there?
2) Luckily, the hands are a part of you so most likely they will be still there.
For this reason, you can surely focus on them.
Do exactly the same as you would when you focus on the ground.
But instead, concentrate on your hands!
3) Center your attention at staying in the dream.
Examine them closely. This will improve your dream vision and raise the awareness of your dream body.
4) Your main goal here is simple, yet crucial: to sharpen the alertness of your brain and body inside the dream.
4. Rubbing your hands
Rubbing hands together when you feel that the dream is fading is another great and effective technique.
As long as you are feeling the sensation of rubbing your hands, you cannot experience the contradictory lack of sensation that you would need to feel to wake up.
An experiment in NightLight 7.1 was held to test this idea and to collect additional proof on the effectiveness of BOTH the spinning and rubbing technique.
Participants were instructed to rub their hands till they found themselves in a vivid dream, or awaken completely.
Moreover, while rubbing their hands, they were asked to repeat to themselves “The next scene will be a dream.“
The results of this experiment were:
Both the spinning and rubbing techniques are effective in prolonging lucid dreams.
The fact that the rubbing technique worked as well as it was predicted to, supports the theory behind the prediction:
Interaction and sensory experience in the dream will suppress awakening.
Between spinning and rubbing, rubbing does hold a useful advantage:
spinning itself tends to destabilize the visual elements of the dream, while rubbing does not.
Also, some believe that focus on a sensory method other than vision may be more useful to stabilize dreams.
But it might work differently for some.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO:
1) While you are in your lucid dream and you feel that the dream begins to fade, vigorously rub your (dream) hands together.
2) It is important to do it, while you still feel your dream body.
3) Furthermore, it is important to experience a vivid sense of movement and friction.
4) You should continue to rub your hands until you find yourself in a vivid dream scene or awaken completely.
5) Again, you need to repeat to yourself over and over while rubbing their hands, “The next scene will be a dream.”
5. Stay relaxed
This may sound way too basic, and it is!
However, it will work very well.
The facts are clear – a lot of cases, when people wake up from a lucid dream, is simply because of excitement.
And doing too much at once might cause that emotion, which can result in awakening.
So, getting overly excited and waking up is something that you would rather avoid.
Imagine, when you have a bad dream/a nightmare.
It is highly possible to wake up, because of the high level of emotions that you are going through in the dream.
In a nightmare, you experience negative feelings, such as fear.
But it goes the same if it is a positive feeling, such as excitement.
Another thing is that you may think that waking up from REM sleep (the sleep stage, where we dream) is not easy.
Well, that’s not quite true.
You can notice how close REM sleep is to the awake state. Also, more REM sleep occurs in the morning (when it is the easiest to wake up).
With all of this excitement going on in your lucid dream, you cannot expect, especially as a beginner to have a long and exciting dream.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO:
1) It is simple – when you realize that you are lucid, don’t rush.
Like a lucid dream beginner, try to observe things such as how does it feel to be in a lucid dream, what is the environment, etc
2) Don’t try immediately to do crazy stuff, such as flying.
Just be curious and explore the dream scene, without doing too much crazy things. This is at least for the beginning.
3) With time, when you will be able to stabilize your lucid dream.
Practicing the skill will allow you to control better your emotions, as well as to have the lucid dream for longer, so you can do anything you want, without waking up immediately.
6. Do a reality check
If you are reading this article, you should know what is a reality check but just as a reminder:
They are EXTREMELY important for lucid dreaming.
Luckily, they can help you prolong the lucid dream and stay there for a longer period.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO:
1) Every time you realize you are in a dream, do immediately a reality check!
2) Even if you don’t feel the dream ”shaking”, just do it!
It is just as a ”safety” that will ensure that you will direct your attention to this action, which will focus you on something.
And remember what was the point of all of these prolonging techniques – to sharpen the alertness of your brain and body inside the dream, TOWARDS the dream!
3) You can try to push your fingers through your hand.
This reality check is created from LaBerge.
So, in the real world, nothing odd will happen.
However, it works very well in the dream world.
It is highly possible that you can put your finger through your hand, easily!
This will also prove that you are lucid dreaming.
7. Demand clarity
You can literally ”ask” the dream for clarity.
Yeah, I know it may sound a bit weird.
But this action is successful for one simple reason.
Basically, you demand from YOURSELF and your ask subconscious to focus on YOUR dream world.
You can think about it in a demanding manner, or even ask out loud.
Be sure you think of say positive things.
A simple line can either wake you up or let you dream lucidly.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO:
1) When you start to lose clarity, focus on the chosen ”mantra”.
A few examples:
– “Clarity now!”
-“Make this dream more vivid!”
– “Give me higher sharpness!”
– “Improve focus!”
– “Increase lucidity!”
2) You need to believe and WANT what you are saying.
Words can be ineffective in dreams, too. So, be sure that you really feel the need for clarity.
3) And most importantly, it needs to be with a positive attitude.
For instance, if you say ” STOP this blurriness” or “DON’T wake up”, you are using a negative construction, followed by ” wake up ”, which might wake you up.
4) So, think about only one of the suggestions above.
Don’t overwhelm your mind. If you do it right, almost always, your dream will clasp into a higher focus.
8. Try a herbal tea or a supplement
Supplements and herbs are a great tool for giving a boost to your body.
They can really make a difference, after a period of usage.
Furthermore, some people do not believe that they can help.
Well, I won’t say that they are wrong since everyone has the right to decide whether to believe in something or not.
Moreover, using supplements for lucid dreaming supplements irregularly is not harmful in any manner (except you are INTOLERANT or allergic to some ingredient so be sure to CHECK WELL!).
However, IF you plan to use only supplements to achieve lucidity, this is also not the greatest option.
They are a good ADDITIONAL help!
And what is more, they are the perfect demonstration the extraordinary of lucid dreaming, for beginners.
So the bottom line, if you experiment with supplements, be sure to closely observe them, before trying.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO:
1) Check the possible supplements and herbs that are out there, and choose the one you feel that is the best for you.
Take them for AT LEAST a few days, or even a few weeks.
2) The advantages of lucid dreaming supplements are that they can:
– make the dream MUCH more vivid
– increase the saturation of your dreams
– help you to become more in control of the dream
– aid to have more awareness while you are dreaming
3) However, don’t simply rely ONLY on them.
While taking the supplement, do not forget the other techniques.
The herbs and supplements are a great support to experiment with the other prolonging techniques.
So you can easily figure which one works the best for you.
9. Shake your head
Shaking your head is a kinetic technique.
Many lucid dreaming experts believe that actions like shaking your head, also spinning around, makes you more grounded IN your dream.
So, the moment you feel that you are able to feel your physical body lying on the bed, a fast movement can help you to keep you in the dream.
Shaking your head can be a helpful technique so it’s a good decision to consider learning it.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO:
1) Start gradually.
When you begin to shake your head, go slowly and intentionally, as this will make the movement intended and more efficient.
2) Be careful with your eyes.
The thing is that when a person closes his or her eyes, the chances of waking up are quite high.
Although it may cause to teleport into another dream, there is still a chance that closing your eyes will wake you up.
Furthermore, if you see that when performing the technique with closed eyes results in awakening, simply know that you should perform the technique with your eyes closed.
3) Consider combinations
Since this technique is quite tricky, you may consider to combine it with number 7 in this list (demand clarity).
For example, while shaking your head consciously, try to say or shout “Clarity Now!” or something alike.
10. Engage your senses
Doesn’t matter which, just any of your senses.
For instance, touching a surface can really make a difference!
It is a good one because it is easy, you can always touch things with your hands.
Even though you are in a dream, when you do this you will feel how real it actually seems.
This should solidify and help to stabilize your dream.
It will basically make the whole experience feel much more real.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO:
1) Look for an object or anything around you.
Set the intention to touch it.
If you can’t find anything around you, touch something that is always there – a part of your body, such as your hand.
2) This is different than the rubbing hands, though.
But you can still do something similar. Just focus on the touch.
Concentrate on the action.
It should help to transit a blurry, unvivid dream into the exact opposite!
11. Just slow things down a bit
Try to slow things down. If you find yourself all excited, remember that this feeling will wake you up faster.
Your brain should keep up with what are you doing, but it may need a second or two.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO:
1) Try to slow down your breath, and just take a moment.
Simply focus on your breathing for a few seconds.
2) Similar to number 5, which was to stay relaxed, focus on the dream environment itself.
3) Stay calm until you don’t feel that the dream is stabilized.
Handle your feelings and keep being relaxed at the beginning of your lucid dream. It is that simple!
12. Go with the flow
Lucidity Institute members were comparing this prolonging lucid dream technique, too.
In fact, this technique -” going with the flow” – is intended more like a controlling technique.
So, every time the dream began to fade, the subjects of the study were instructed to continue to do what they were already doing while remaining aware that they are dreaming.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO:
1) When you feel that the dream starts to fade, persist in doing whatever you were doing before it started to feel blurry and fading
2) Simply ignore the fact that the dream is ”disappearing”.
Fully concentrate on the action that you were doing (for instance if it was walking, just keep walking).
3) While carrying on with your dream activity, it is important to repeat to yourself something like ” The next scene will be a dream”.
13. Jump
The jumping technique can be quite useful for a lot of lucid dreamers.
It works similar to other kinetic techniques, like spinning around or shaking your head.
When you jump around, you are grounding yourself in the dream.
You feel more your dream body, rather than your physical body, that is simply lying in your bed.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO:
1) Move consciously.
If you go with this technique, that is a sort of kinetic technique is better to move gradually.
Some people might have more success if they move quick, but it is common that the gradual, conscious move is better, rather than quickly or wildly.
2) You can start jumping in small hops in place while focusing on the dream environment.
This can naturally put more feeling back into your dream body and assist you to maintain the dream.
3) Another option is to “jump into a new dreamscape”.
You can try to imagine or find a door or a hole while thinking of a new dreamscape.
But just so you know, this option is more tricky, because of the fact that your dream is being shaky.
Maybe you won’t have time to all of this, but it won’t hurt to try.
It might be a good option if you feel that the dream is just starting to be a bit blurry and fizzy around.
A new dreamscape can help you re-establish and stabilize your dream.
4) The technique might be more effective if you combine it other stabilization technique.
For instance, you can demand clarity by shouting “Increase lucidity.”
14. Interact with the environment
This one is another, very effective technique!
Interacting with the environment will increase your lucidity and is going to make you more aware of your dream environment.
Interacting with your dream setting will clearly depend on what is your dreamlike.
But you can start with the basic examples that are below since they can be done in almost any dream.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO:
1) The easier way to interact is with dream characters.
Find a character and try to talk to them. This one is pretty enjoyable, too.
Talking with dream characters is not only interesting, but it is a great way to ground you more in your dream.
It engages your mind and your lucidity increases.
2) However, if there is nobody around you, just walk.
Don’t let yourself to simply stand in one place.
If you stand in one place you will feel much easier your physical body that is lying in your bed.
It will increase the chances of losing your lucidity and waking up.
So, be sure that you wander around your dream environment.
3) Observe – take a look at some small details around.
If you are in a forest – explore the trees, the view, the leaves. Touch the things around you. Notice the textures, the colors.
15. Fall backward
When your dream starts to destabilize or become blurry, you can also try to fall back!
It is a good technique that changes the dreamscape into a new one.
Be aware that with falling backward, you are going to have a very vivid physical sensation.
Also, it should be your last attempt to stabilize your lucid dream.
You may ask why?
The technique may cause you to bounce you back to your bed, creating a false awakening (a dream of waking up) or even a real awakening.
Which is kind of the thing we were trying to avoid in the first place, right?
Therefore, it should be your last option.
Try it only when you feel your lucidity is slipping away too fast and you have only a second to respond.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO:
1) Be sure that you think about your new dreamscape!
You should intentionally focus on that before falling backward. This will assure that you will ”fall” into your new dream.
However, be prepared, that this may not work every time.
It is highly possible to end up in a false awakening.
2) When you are falling down you should decide whether to stay with your eyes open or not.
The thing is that closing your eyes often ends up in awakening (or again – false awakening).
But it is a good way to ”form” and create the new dream environment, too.
So here, you should experiment a bit and see which option is the best for you – closed or open eyes.
3) Have an intention!
Don’t just randomly trow yourself. This sensation may frighten your physical body, which can wake you up.
Prepare and plan the falling in advance.
For example, cross your arms over your chest, as you would do if you were falling back in real life.
4) Falling backward can be a bit discomforting at first.
But it is a good option not only for dream stabilization but also if you want to ”teleport” to a new dream location.
A few important notes
Trying any of these methods for the first time, might not end up as desired.
Which is completely normal for being a beginner, or even for an intermediate.
So it is good to be prepared for that kind of results.
1) Visual stabilization problem:
– An obstacle with practicing vision to maintain a lucid dream is the fact that when a dream ends, the visual sight disappears first.
2) Other senses:
– Other senses, such as touching, may persist longer.
3) So if you start to lose the dream extremely fast – which technique would be best to choose?
As mentioned, the dream may lose visual detail and begin to take on a cartoon-like or washed-out appearance.
This can all happen extremely fast; within a few seconds.
Final words
These techniques will take you some time.
You have to take the time to learn them properly and expect that the first attempts may fail.
The thing you should never ever forget is to be alert.
The key to a successful stabilization technique is to be mindful while you are doing it.
Focus on really experiencing your dreamscape and being a part of your dream world.
With that considered, any technique will become more effective than it would be otherwise.
Eventually, with experimenting and practice, you will figure out which stabilization techniques work the best for you so you can stay lucid for longer!
Lastly, if learning those techniques seems impossible or even absurd, you should change your attitude before using them.
Most likely, some of you thought the same as lucid dreaming at first.
But the truth is that you can truly master any of the techniques, with the needed motivation, consistency and beliefs.
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I enjoyed your article and read your website weekly. I am 14, and I have a problem:
I’ve had lucid dreams before, where everything isn’t very clear, but I am aware what is going on and can move, fly, and talk. However, something always wakes me up. Sometimes I blink too hard and can’t stop blinking, and other times something within the dream wakes me up, like someone grabbing me or something like that. Also, sometimes I lose awareness that I am dreaming, and when I realize I am dreaming, I feel dizzy and stumble and lose my balance. Please help me with this, if you can.