What Is Lucid Dreaming, The Sleep Technique You Should Be Trying?

When was the last time you can recall you had a dream? Now when was the last time you can recall you not only had a dream, but were able to realize you were in one? If you have had memories of the latter, then you'd know what a lucid dream is. Scientists say lucid dreaming happens when you become aware that you are dreaming... but this happens while you're still in the dream state. Studies show about 55 percent of people have had at least one lucid dream in their lifetime, while 23 percent have experienced lucid dreams at least once a month or more (via Healthline). 

We may have the perception that we're powerless to control the direction of our dreams, but that's not the case here. In lucid dreaming, you're in the driver's seat; you can actually do things that aren't possible in the real world because of the limits imposed on us by our physical world (such as gravity, for instance). Because there are no limits in lucid dreams, research by Stephen LaBerge and his partners, Kristen LaMarca and Benjamin Baird, shows that lucid dreams present a unique opportunity for personal growth and entertainment.

If this all sounds like deja vu, think of the movie Inception, and Leonardo di Caprio's character and his ability to control people's dreams. "The technique can help us creatively solve the problems of everyday stressors," LaMarca, who works at the Lucidity Institute, tells Vogue. "Whether that's relationships and romance or career and health."

Some psychologists say lucid dreaming also represents more than just your imagination's way of helping you get what you really, really want. Researchers at Canada's McGill University say they were able to treat people who had recurrent nightmares successfully using a variety of techniques including lucid dream induction. Another study from the University of Lincoln shows that lucid dreamers are able to solve significantly more insight problems than sleepers who have non-lucid dreams. "It may be possible to use lucid dreaming to overcome nightmares, treat phobias, creative problem-solve, refine motor skills, and even help with rehabilitation from physical trauma," says Denholm Aspy of the University of Adelaide's School of Psychiatry. 

You may not be one of the lucky 55 percent of the world's population who has ever had a lucid dream, but you can train your mind to make it happen. "The best thing about lucid dreaming is that everyone can tap into it, you just need to have a place to sleep and some practice," Judith Amores from the MIT Media Lab tells Vogue. "There are some people that are lucky and are born with the talent, but overall, practice makes perfect." 

One of the most popular ways to try and induce lucid dreaming involves waking yourself up every five hours, to remind yourself that the next time you hit REM sleep (that's when dreams happen) that you're in a dream. The technique harnesses "prospective memory," or the ability to remember to do things in the future, and repeating the phrase like a mantra can help your mind turn it into an intention. In case you think waking after five hours of sleep can be a shortcut to sleep deprivation, Aspy's research shows otherwise. If you don't have anything major planned for tomorrow, tonight may be the night to make your lucid dream happen.