MM should be last step or you can do it while you skitter or rapid read. It's a memory technique.
You can do that state even with distractions- I do it in the book store and library with no problems. Headphones with surf or thunderstorm sounds will help though. My wife breaks my concentration all the time. My mantra has changed to "Re-Lax, Re-Lax, 4-3-2- Damm-it, She's Talk-ing again, ig-nore her, 1, keep-the -state, see the page."
Look up study techniques at the Library and PR them.
About dreams- tell your mind to sort out the information you're studying and process it at night. Now, you already do this everynight anyway now you're intending to do it. Good ideas comming from dreams is nothing new. It's not something that will start happening every night in the beginning.
