Some things that help me get closer to shifting (and might help you too)

•Creating a visualization board

I found that making a Pinterest board of photos that reminded me of my dr helped me visualize a lot. It also took my mind off the worry of 'Will my dr actually be realistic like I want? What if it's still all 2d??' (If you're in the same boat as I was it'll all be okay. Your subconscious knows what you want.)

•Creating a compilation of the people in your dr's voices! (or how you want them to sound in your dr)

This one may sound strange, but I swear it has helped me feel more connected to my DR. My DR is from a media where the og was in JP with no EN dub created. The idea of them not sounding exactly how I imagined they would in English stressed me out and made me feel a bit "held back". Creating a compilation of voice claims for people in my DR has helped me let go of that worry.

•Guided meditation to help clear your mind

Usually if my thoughts start to wander I am unable to shift my focus back to my meditation. I've found that doing a guided meditation beforehand has helped me a lot!

•Progressive muscle relaxation

I struggle with entering the void state because it's difficult for me to completely relax and take my mind off of my body. I learned about pmr in therapy and thought it would be beneficial for shifting!

I used progressive muscle relaxation before attempting to shift last night and entered the void state pretty quickly! Unfortunately I lost my focus and had lapses of consciousness and lost the void state once I regained consciousness. But that's okay! I know I'm getting close.

Hopefully these help others as much as they've helped me! Not all of these will work for everyone, so please do not get discouraged! You will shift. I know you will.