Some alarm clocks have more than one alarm you can set, so you can wake up from separate cycles of REM sleep. You can also use a mobile device, many of which allow you to set as many alarms as you like. Be careful not to do this too often, however, as REM sleep is a beneficial cycle of sleep that helps you process information, build memories, and replenish neurotransmitters, including chemicals that give you energy and help you feel good during the day. [3] X Trustworthy Source HelpGuide Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources. Go to source

Think to yourself, “I’m going to actually call for help. " Some people get the sensation of their brain responding with a no. Continue telling your brain that you will in fact call out for help until the sensation goes away. This might be the second or third time. At this point, try to say something. It may seem harder than usual, and that’s because you are actually using your vocal chords. This time, a noise should come out, and you should wake up, realizing that it was all a dream.

Sleep in a position that will make it easy for you to move around. In the dream, try to kick your legs or move your arms around.

The easiest way to do this is to (in your dream) get on your knees with your face on the floor, and stretch your arms behind you. You’ll be asleep (aka awake) in no time. If there are other characters in your dream around you, you might have to tell them not to distract you. It’s like falling asleep in real life - you can’t do it when everyone’s talking.

Make mental notes about your surroundings/environment when you are awake. When you do this in a conscious state on a regular basis, your psyche will bring these habits into the dream state as well. Then, when you dream, you can identify details about your surroundings/environment that will serve as clues that you are dreaming. Once you achieve this, you may be able to become lucid in the dream state. [5] X Research source

Besides just making mental notes of your surroundings/environment, you can explicitly ask yourself whether you are dreaming or awake at various times throughout the day. Again, making a habit of such a practice will very likely carry over into the dream world so that you may recognize you are dreaming once in the dream state, should you ask yourself at that time. This is called the reflection technique. [6] X Research source

If you follow these steps effectively, you may be able to become aware of the dream within the dream, thereby becoming lucid and gaining control over the dream.

Intentionality basically just requires that you use your imagination to conceive of the dream you want to have. Imagine the place you want to be in your dream and especially how you will get there. This can help you plan, in a sense, to dream lucidly.

In addition to light stimuli, there is even an app for smartphones that helps with intentionality and plays sounds that might help the dreamer become lucid during key parts of the sleep cycle.

One technique combines intentionality with the mental notes mentioned above (called reality testing). [10] X Research source Another technique combines journaling—waking up to record dream memories in a journal—and analysis of the journal entries for common attributes with intentionality. It is called the wake back to bed (WBTB) technique.

Once you are lucid in the dream, you should be able to control the dream. You will have more control if you become more aware of the dream world, so pay attention to your surroundings. [11] X Research source