Can't manage to be aware...

[Iriba]

Guys this is really frustrating me, for example. if i go for a walk, i can be mostly self aware and also around me. but if i am playing pc or talking to someone, my self awareness vanishes and i enter in auto-pilot again, without thinking what i am experiencing. Have you guys experienced this as well? I don't know what to do to fix this problem.

[DreamscapeGoat]

ADA does not require you to be aware 24/7 - the point of it is so you'll stop and observe while dreaming, or to help you notice something out of place during the dream. Really, it isn't anything to worry about - just keep it up, and you'll get to your lucids soon.

[mimihigurashi]

I'm having the exact same problem, it can get extremely frustrating. I thought of asking for help but didn't because, really, only you are capable of succeeding. If you add any tricks, like for example a reminder on your phone, you will probably get lazy/forgetful because you start relying on it, and there won't be any reminder in your dreams. Being off of auto-pilot while doing nothing/being alone is good but not nearly enough. It's most important to maintain self-awareness while engaged in something like a conversation or doing any sort of task that requires some mental effort, because you'll almost never find yourself in a dream with nothing to do, if you know what I mean. So I'm not really sure what we're supposed to do.. Maybe get busy on purpose with the intention of maintaining self-awareness? Like short session of an activity that requires your attention, try to do them without switching to auto-pilot. Sorry I can't be more useful, I've been struggling with the same problem for weeks.

[Iriba]

I'm having the exact same problem, it can get extremely frustrating. I thought of asking for help but didn't because, really, only you are capable of succeeding. If you add any tricks, like for example a reminder on your phone, you will probably get lazy/forgetful because you start relying on it, and there won't be any reminder in your dreams. Being off of auto-pilot while doing nothing/being alone is good but not nearly enough. It's most important to maintain self-awareness while engaged in something like a conversation or doing any sort of task that requires some mental effort, because you'll almost never find yourself in a dream with nothing to do, if you know what I mean. So I'm not really sure what we're supposed to do.. Maybe get busy on purpose with the intention of maintaining self-awareness? Like short session of an activity that requires your attention, try to do them without switching to auto-pilot. Sorry I can't be more useful, I've been struggling with the same problem for weeks. That's exactly what i think too, but i guess it can't be helped. We must try and try to reach that level. Although i'm entering in panic, i will try harder.

[mitten1997]

Just like dreamscapegoat said u don't need to maintain awareness every minute of the day. Why not you try to associate ada with something you do constantly, like I check the time and do the dishes a lot, the latter allowing my mind to wander. If you keep at it it will become a habit, you may stretch it longer , like when I'm done the dishes ill have a convo and be aware as well. Just a personal method. I'm getting back to Ada, it's my second day and I quit before cuz it never stuck and had no motivation as well but I find this helps. I hope you find success.

[Iriba]

Just like dreamscapegoat said u don't need to maintain awareness every minute of the day. Why not you try to associate ada with something you do constantly, like I check the time and do the dishes a lot, the latter allowing my mind to wander. If you keep at it it will become a habit, you may stretch it longer , like when I'm done the dishes ill have a convo and be aware as well. Just a personal method. I'm getting back to Ada, it's my second day and I quit before cuz it never stuck and had no motivation as well but I find this helps. I hope you find success. I get the point but, what would be the point of naming this technique all day awareness if you don't need to be aware all day? But my awareness disappears when i'm putting my concentration in other things that need focus.

[gab]

I get the point but, what would be the point of naming this technique all day awareness if you don't need to be aware all day? But my awareness disappears when i'm putting my concentration in other things that need focus. Just because it's called All Day Awareness, it doesn't mean, that you know how to do it the minute you finish reading the tutorial. ADA presents you the potential. How you could after LONG PRACTICE eventualy maybe be able to keep awareness all day long. Personaly, I have not seen anybody here on DV, who is capable to keep awareness all day long. So you start with few minutes each day. First time just when doing nothing, so you not distracted. Then you add awareness during some activities, as it was suggested above (all great suggestions and posts, btw). Like doing dishes. That doesn't require you to pay attention to doing dishes that much, there is not much thinking involved in that. So you should be able to think about something else while doing dishes. Activities like playing video games or watching movies, reading, tend to take up all of our attention. Most of the time the outside world ceases to exist, and we get fully immersed in our movie or game. And that's ok. Although there are excercises for that too, those activities don't take up that big part of your day, that you coudln't skip them. Just practice your awareness in easier situations. If you get really good at it, you may be able to do it during playing games as well. And there are other techniques besides ADA. Like SAT - sporadic awareness technique, or self-awareness from sageous's WILD class. Or sivason's Dream yoga class. Focus more on what you can do, and slowly build up on it.

[Iriba]

Just because it's called All Day Awareness, it doesn't mean, that you know how to do it the minute you finish reading the tutorial. ADA presents you the potential. How you could after LONG PRACTICE eventualy maybe be able to keep awareness all day long. Personaly, I have not seen anybody here on DV, who is capable to keep awareness all day long. So you start with few minutes each day. First time just when doing nothing, so you not distracted. Then you add awareness during some activities, as it was suggested above (all great suggestions and posts, btw). Like doing dishes. That doesn't require you to pay attention to doing dishes that much, there is not much thinking involved in that. So you should be able to think about something else while doing dishes. Activities like playing video games or watching movies, reading, tend to take up all of our attention. Most of the time the outside world ceases to exist, and we get fully immersed in our movie or game. And that's ok. Although there are excercises for that too, those activities don't take up that big part of your day, that you coudln't skip them. Just practice your awareness in easier situations. If you get really good at it, you may be able to do it during playing games as well. And there are other techniques besides ADA. Like SAT - sporadic awareness technique, or self-awareness from sageous's WILD class. Or sivason's Dream yoga class. Focus more on what you can do, and slowly build up on it. so basically you try to focus your awareness and stretch it for longer times in activities that doesn't need concentration or mind focus. if that is the point i think i get it now thanks for helping me everyone