Tip to gain lucidity inside of a dream more frequently.

[SmifoPL]

DILD
i know a good method to notice you are dreaming appart from the usual RC or dream similarities learned from your dream journal.
all you need is your hand and a pen.
Basically you write an 'A' on the back of your hand (the A standing for awake) and each time you look at your hand and notice the letter which can be anything to be honest, you do a reality check. after some time which varies for everyone, the A will appear on your hand when you are dreaming and reminds you to do a RC.
it is really simple but also really effective especially as DILDs are unreliable compared to other methods but as with everything if you stick to it and are prepared for people to look at you weird for having something drawn on your hand i think it is a good idea. Besides who cares about the un-informed and ignorant who waste their sleeping time when they could be having LDs.
i have tried this out myself and it led me to one LD out of my 6.
thanks for reading.

[ForestGuide]

That's a pretty good tip! I did something similar with the tattoo on my shoulder. it was interesting when I first got the tattoo I often had dreams of the ink either flaking off or dripping off, but once I grew more accustom to the tattoo it would show up darker in my dreams and eventually reminded me to do an RC! For any one who doesn't want to mark up their body for LDs I suggest a necklace with a cool pendant and just remind yourself to do a RC whenever you happen to look down at it or touch it. I found this to be pretty effective without the social awkwardness of coloring on yourself     

[SmifoPL]

o yeah tattoo is a god idea i got one on my forearm but i haven't noticed it in my dreams that much.. i never tke notice of my own body except for when i done the aforementioned method.

[wild_dedication]

That sounds like a good tip! I love writing on myself lol. I tried the whole RC every time you walk through a doorway... But, that just didn't work for me. I'll give it a shot!

[Darkinc9]

I actually have tattoos down to y knuckles, I use them for rc but the problem is in my dreams unusually don't have tattoos. I guess it's a sign but its hard to notice something that isn't there during nld.

[mieksta]

This was the first thing I tried when I started ,but I only get a body half the time and sometimes its not even mine.

[zachharmonic]

I actually do something like this too. In this coming week or two, I plan to hardcore focus on my lucidity. To the extent, on my left hand I have written on the right side of my fingers:
Index: Reality
Thumb: Check
Middle: Are
Ring: You
Pinky: Dreaming?

I just started this yesterday, and I went from only doing RC's when I managed to remember, to actually doing them on a decent basis, I actually notice these there so I'm hoping this will help me.

[Bato9]

This sounds like a good idea, but I don't always realize any physical differences about myself or other people for that matter when I'm dreaming, I just tend to accept it as the norm I guess. Anyone have any tips on how to strengthen my self-awareness?

[Rhapsode]

I would recommend the tip given within this topic, Bato9. I did something similar when starting out where I would wear a necklace which I would do a RC on every time I became aware of it. If you do something similar, carry an item that reminds you to check your dream state, you will increase your self-awareness for you will naturally begin questioning reality and your day-to-day interactions. 

Another suggestion is meditation. For even as small of an amount as five minutes a day allow yourself to relax and focus on your breathing, a thought, or even just a feeling. When you notice yourself becoming distracted gently bring yourself back to your original focus. This is immensely helpful in developing self-awareness. 

[DrTechnical]

This sounds like a good idea, but I don't always realize any physical differences about myself or other people for that matter when I'm dreaming, I just tend to accept it as the norm I guess. Anyone have any tips on how to strengthen my self-awareness?

Wake Back to Bed (WBTB). This is actually age old, if you consider how Dream Yoga forces this condition. Basically, sleeping and then getting up for a while forces the brain to assume a neuro transmitter balance more similar to the wakeful state. You will be more self aware and more able to apply reasonable logic.

[Tom]

The A on your hand idea is good.. .. but very much like other past methods ..one example is looking at your hands during a dream...
It takes time to develop this ..[as a habit]... that will carry into the dream...
Once developed it should work...but it takes time..
All in all ...its a dream cue...  similar to what I am trying to learn using flashing  LEDs during high REM sleep in last three or four hours of sleep.. .....[  flashing LED self test] .in..[general dream discussion and experiences]
 My newest idea is leaning toward focusing  on ..visualizing ..and holding hypnogogic imagery  awareness into the dream...posible WILD method...
 Tom

[Ancient]

I find breathing through pinched nose to be a very reliable RC (if you can remember to do it). It's quick and easy to do and answers the question "am I dreaming" instantly. There are various sensations to look out for: inability to breathe in (duh); slight pressure in the ears; tingly feeling in the nasal canal etc. Through practice, this might translate into the dream world.

[Serenity]

Nose pinching is my favourite technique. It rarely fails, although, sometimes I have to do it more than once, because breathing through a pinched nose is an odd sensation. I like to make sure I'm pinching properly, the second time (trick: still expect to breathe. If you expect to not breathe, you won't breathe. You have to expect the check to pass).

Plus, if you pinch your nose, while awake, no one seems to question it. I have done fully watched nose pinches... on transit, around classmates, even when directly talking to people. No one ever says anything.

[Sunshine]

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[Serenity]

I always think I'm not totally closing my nose for some reason.

Yep, same here. I somehow managed to train myself to check with a second pinch. If I'm really, really unsure, I'll do a 3rd, but usually two is good enough for me that I'm definitely not pinching wrong, and it's definitely a dream.