This definitely should not take an hour. If it is taking you more than 15-20 minutes, your timing is probably wrong. Sometimes it only takes 5 or 10 minutes.

It is all about getting into the right state of mind. The benefit of lucid dreaming over other OBE/AP techniques is that you are working with your body's natural rhythms. You are trying to leverage your natural ability to sleep. Keep this in mind. You do not have to laboriously meditate yourself into some complicated trance state. You just have to fall asleep like you normally do, but keep a small part of your mind aware.