One of the keys to terminating a nightmare at will is becoming observant and critical while dreaming. If you can accomplish this, every dream will have something out of place or abnormal in it, and that is your wake-up call. It could be flowers that move, a dog that talks, a safe in the middle of the street, a door that becomes a solid wall, or anything else outlandish.
I started my journey by trying to document my dreams each morning immediately after awakening. It didn't matter what the dream was about, it was a matter of becoming more aware of each dream and all of the aspects in those dreams. I also found that by becoming more aware of the going's on, I was not only in the dream but an observer OF the sleep illusions which created a sort of different dimension to it all. Later, I started experimenting with telling myself What to dream about as sort of a defensive move. Just before sleep, I clear my brain and focus on what I wish to do, where I wish to travel or whatever and that is generally all my dreams consist of anymore. Once in a great while, I seem to defrag which overpowers my prior self programming and when those scattered files start to come up, I have to be on guard against anything that might be harmful or particularly stressful. When that happens, I can generally redirect what is going on or tell myself to wake up. The only one's I cannot redirect are the seemingly violent ones and now when something like that starts to occur, my observer self wakes me up.
I can't generally do that before I go to sleep for the first time or, perhaps more likely, I don't remember my early dreams. But when I wake up early in the morning, but don't intend to get up, I can do that several times with my later dreams. Then, at some point, I will realize that I am now simply closing my eyes and making stuff up; then it's time to get up.
Its been many years since I read it, but I'm fairly sure several of your methods are detailed in the Jungian Senoi Dreamwork Manual. The Tibetan Buddhists also have their own approach: 'The Tibetan Yogas of Dream and Sleep' ISBN# 978-1559391016. There are various other books too: http://www.world-of-lucid-dreaming.com/bestselling-books-on-lucid-dreaming.html Too many get hung up on methods, when results is all that really matter. Use whatever that works for you.
One thing I might mention which isn't necessarily on topic but is within the realm of a good sleep is something I have suggested to many, many people (both believers and not) with some great results. If a person is having trouble sleeping, my suggestion is to try to relax in bed and mentally recite Psalm 23. Do it slowly and concentrate on the words. If you're not asleep by the first completion, then do it again. I will just about guarantee there will not be a third time. Of course, the process means that one must memorize the psalm and not just lay there and read it. After a few nights, you'll start noticing your dreams a little more and how closely related to the psalm they are. I have had a few people come back to me and tell me that after they started practicing the technique, they often do not get past the first few words before peacefully going to sleep.
Certainly not boring. But, as opposed to one of my prior teachers who said that the reason we get sleepy whilst reading the Bible is that Satan does not wish us to read it, I will take peaceful instead. Although, there are definitely portions of the Bible that are extremely lively and hardly boring or peaceful. Something about that teacher always got me into trouble but did teach me not to correct an instructor during class. I spent a large portion of my college career cleaning the wax off of hallway baseboards (instead of acquiring a demerit) by simply offering up my own take on things.
The same effect can be had by saying a mantra. You start off by chanting a mantra for 5 minutes, then switch to 'chanting' it silently in your head, and within another 5 minutes you will start to yawn. It never fails with me. Not sure if it works by being super relaxing, or super boring.
Whatever starts you yawning, gets the sandman into your eyes, and otherwise bores you to sleep is whatever works. Like I said before, too many put too much emphasis on techniques, and way too little on results. Use whatever works for you.
@Neville Telen Home-made Blueberry or Cranberry wine. Works wonders, plus tastes so awful good.......!! Frank
If it works it works. That said, be careful to closely monitor the effects. There is ongoing research that suggests linkage between alcohol and sleep problems: https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/how-alcohol-affects-sleep https://www.verywell.com/how-alcohol-affects-sleep-apnea-3014680 https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2017/01/23/will-wine-at-dinner-mess-up-your-sleep/ https://www.huffingtonpost.com/caren-osten-gerszberg/wine-and-health_b_1372082.html There are many other links, but I'm sure you can track them down, if interested. I take a shot glass of herbal liqueur (Chartreuse, Benedictine, or Disaronno) every evening around sunset, to allow the alcohol time to clear out before bedtime, and since I seldom get to bed before 2AM, that's a lot of time. My Granny used to steep some fresh herbs in White Lightening, and have a shot glass right before bed, and it never had a bad effect on her....so alcohol does not affect everyone the same.
I rarely have any problem sleeping, if any thing sometimes I would like to remember going to sleep. I lay my head down and wake up in the morning. There are times when I don't finish my prayer before I'm zonked out. I hardly ever remember my dreams either upon opening my eyes, but while I'm dreaming if I don't like the way things are happening, I just change it.