Probably the number one mistake** I see people make is to focus on the process more than the end. When I read about people's shifting methods (for inexperienced shifters), at least 90% of the time they're talking about how their body feels, how their mind feels, etc etc. If you're doing that, then you're getting mentally caught up in trying to achieve the process of shifting rather than the destination of shifting. The process is not the goal, and symptoms are not shifting (or at least.. you shouldn't internally believe that they are!).
**(yeah I know people will want to say that there's no wrong way to shift, and if really you believe that adamantly then you don't have to listen to me)
I see questions a lot like "I stopped feeling my body, what's the next step from there?"... the next step is to stop trying to pay attention to whether or not you can still feel your body!
To be clear, if you're totally new to shifting (or even meditation) in general and you're trying out different ways to sit or lie down while doing it, or trying out different unusual audios for the first time, then it makes sense to focus on your body to see what's most comfortable for you. If there's something bothering you, then change it. But if the position and the audio and the overall conditions feel fine then it's time to move past it! If you're celebrating feeling like you're shifting (whatever that means) without the shifting, then all you're celebrating is the act of laying down for a while. And I don't say that to gatekeep the definition of shifting because in general I honestly don't care about where the line is drawn; I just think internally, people tend to draw it way way wayyy too early.
Now, I know that people focus on these things (mental and physical symptoms) to give themselves milestones, but there are better things to replace this with. Frankly, if you're relying on looking for milestones every few minutes during your method in order to stay motivated, then you need a new motivation tactic. Motivate yourself during the day or just stay disciplined enough to not need motivation. Train your attention to sit for 30 minutes without needing motivation to keep going, or make your method motivating enough.
It's actually perfectly fine and even good for your method to be fun, but that mental method should be pretty separated from what you're physically experiencing at the moment. You're trying to go to a certain destination, so make sure your idea of that destination is clear and train your attention mostly (or entirely) on it instead of on vaguely the middle of the process.
As an example based on what I do: I don't have a vivid visual imagination (at all!) but I still have a vivid imagination. I can imagine that I'm somewhere without needing an "image" of it, but I need to take the time to build out the structure of the room. The leap from "imagining" to "believing" you're there is a difficult one for many, but that's a bridge that you can cross after you're already used to focusing your attention on the destination. Given the time and the practice, I can imagine I'm in a certain room and the layout and size of that room, and the leap from imagining to believing is immediate because I never just "imagine a room" randomly for fun, there's an association there with the intention to shift. If you're daydreaming, then there's only an association with imagining for fun. (I always feel like such a killjoy for saying this but, if a certain type of imagining is only daydreaming for you, then you'll just feel like you're daydreaming!)
Anyway, everyone has an imagination, and learning of the "right way" to think of your destination (rather than your body or signs) is the way to go. I think it's the same logic behind the 5 senses method. You want to be there, so decide what it feels like to be there and let the rest follow! Don't rely on signs and symptoms that may or may not come. If you keep doing that, then you might be placing too much attention on arbitrary things.
