I know this is something you probably have heard a lot, at least the general idea. Never the less it works a great deal for me when I do use it. Even if you are wide awake you can practice this method and even though you may not be able to get out if you are completely wide awake you will feel certain sensations and know what to look out for when you use this method in the right state. For practice lay down and get relaxed. I would say spend about ten minutes or so and get as relaxed as possible. When I do this I am laying on my stomach a lot, but either way it will not matter. Focus on the space about 1 to 2 feet from the crown (top) of your head. Of course for most people this area will be behind a wall if your bed is up against it like mine so do not be too literal about it. Picture it as like you are standing up and picturing the empty space a foot above your head. Just focus on this space only. Do not let other thoughts intrude your mind.
You need a single minded concentration on this. You can focus easy at first, but then try to sharpen your focus. Over short increments of time increase the strength of your focus on this space. You should start to feel some sensations in a pretty short amount of time. After some initial sensations I start to dip into the vibrations pretty quickly. Once you get them (if you are like me and get them everytime) shift the focus from focusing on this space only to focusing on entering that space. Picture this anyway you like but keep the main idea that you are now transferring your consciousness into this space. At this stage I start to feel an upwards rush as my awareness really does start to shift to this space. Obviously if you are completely wide awake you will probably not get this last sensation, but you should get some sensations and know what you are looking for in a full attempt.
You all pretty much know by now what the perfect state is for projection, and when you should attempt. If not it's the state, at least for me, in which I feel relaxed easily but not too tired to the point where I need to lay down to sleep. It's about the way you feel when you decide to take a mid day nap because you have nothing better to do (if you are so lucky). In this state it works perfect, and upon waking up obviously... pretty much anything works upon waking up.
You present a good issue that I think i'm going to post a whole new topic about.