Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. Generally, the described techniques provide for improving communications between a user equipment (UE) and a base station in a shared radio frequency spectrum while the UE is operating in a discontinuous reception (DRX) mode. In particular, the UE may be configured to adapt operation in a DRX mode based on whether a base station has access to a shared radio frequency spectrum. For example, the UE may adjust a length of an on-duration for monitoring for a data transmission from the base station, adjust a periodicity for monitoring for control information from the base station, determine whether to keep monitoring for wake-up signaling from the base station, etc. based on whether the base station has access to the shared radio frequency spectrum. Further techniques for improving operation in a DRX mode are also described.