3 Ways to Remember Dreams

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 10:50

There are various theories about why we dream, how we dream, and what meaning we can get from dreams. Many people believe that dreams can provide knowledge for our lives and feelings. The problem is that dreams are hard to remember. With deliberate effort, you can remember your dreams in greater detail.

Step

Method 1 of 3: Before going to bed

Step 1. Plan for a good night's sleep

Dreams occur when the body is in a sleep phase known as REM, which stands for Rapid Eye Movement. The body is resting, but the mind is still actively working with dreams. If you don't sleep well at night or your sleep is disturbed frequently, you experience little REM and dreaming. Try to go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning, to ensure you get a good quality rest.

• Most people need between 7-9 hours of sleep each night to achieve a good amount of rest. People who sleep less than six hours have difficulty remembering dreams. Longer and more vivid dreams appear later in the sleep cycle.
• Create quiet sleeping conditions. Avoid noise and distractions that can distract you from getting a good night's sleep. Use earplugs if necessary and make sure you install heavy curtains that can block out the light from outside.

Step 2. Place your notebook and pen or pencil in an easy-to-reach place from the bed

The best option is a book on a blank sheet of paper without any distracting designs or graphics. Use this notebook only to record your dreams. Before going to bed, make sure the book is open where you can write right away so you don't have to look for blank pages when you wake up.

• Always keep the pen in the same place so you don't have to look around.
• Another way to record your dreams is to place a recording device near your bed or under your pillow so you can verbalize what happened in your dream.

Step 3. Set the alarm near the bed

If you have to get out of bed to turn off the alarm, you may forget what you were dreaming about. Set an alarm to sound after you've had enough sleep. Try not to use radio alarms, because the ads and chatter on the morning radio will distract you.

• If you can wake up without an alarm, you don't have to worry about turning it off.
• If possible, use a more subtle way to wake up. Ask someone to wake you up slowly and without having to talk to you or set a timer near a table lamp in your room. Many people easily remember their dreams if they don't use an alarm.

• Attach a post-it note with the words "What dream did you have last night?" or something in uppercase. So the first thing you see when you open your eyes is that text (and it also turns off the alarm).

  

  Step 4. Don't eat, drink alcohol, or take medication before bed

  Chemicals in food, alcohol, and drugs can affect the brain's ability to remember dreams. Try not to swallow anything at least a few hours before bedtime, so that nothing interferes with your memory or sleep patterns.

  

  Step 5. Calm your mind and body before going to bed

  AIs your brain often busy thinking before going to sleep? Having a lot of stressful thoughts in your head can make it difficult for you to remember dreams that require deep concentration. Before going to bed, let the mind relax and free from heavy problems. Let the thoughts flow quietly into sleep.

  • Do not place your cell phone or laptop on the bed. Sending emails and checking SMS before going to bed can't make my mind clear

  • Try to meditate or use the classic technique of counting sheep to free your mind

    

  

  Step 6. Think about the main problem or emotional problem right before bed

  Think deeply about a situation without having to force yourself to come to a solution or conclusion. Just think that the problem will open the door, in a sense, to a more vivid dream to remember and the dream may be able to offer more insight into the problem at hand.

  Method 2 of 3: Morning After Waking Up

  

  Step 1. Concentrate on remembering the dream as soon as you wake up

  Usually, you can only remember the last dream before you wake up. Don't move and do nothing. Stay in the same position when you wake up and try to remember as many dreams as possible before thinking about anything else. Think about the dream from beginning to end.

  • When remembering a dream, focus on the first object you see when you open your eyes. Look at the object, focus. The object will most likely take the memory of the indistinct dream to a place in memory where it is easier to recall the details. A door knob, a light bulb, or a nail in the wall, will help you to enter into memories of what you experienced while sleeping.

  

  Step 2. Write down the dream in a dream notebook

  Write down as many of your dreams as possible, starting with an outline that includes things like the location of the dream, its basic plot, characters, the overall emotion of the dream (whether you were afraid or happy in the dream), and any salient images that you can remember.

  • If you can remember conversations, you can write them down first, because words in dreams are easy to forget. Write down everything you can, even if you can only remember one picture. Once you get the basics down, more memories of your dreams will come your way.

  • If you can't remember anything about your dream, write down the first thing that comes to mind when you wake up. It may be associated with dreams and evoke memories of dreams. Also write down how you feel when you wake up. The emotions you experienced in the dream will linger, at least for a moment, when you wake up. So if you wake up anxious or excited, ask yourself why that is.

    

    Step 3. Increase the number of dreams you can remember by getting up more often at night

    We have several REM cycles at night and they get longer by morning. If you only record the last dream you had before getting up in the morning, then there are more dreams that you may not remember. It's always tempting to go back to sleep when you wake up in the middle of the night, but take this opportunity to remember what you were dreaming before you go to sleep, because chances are you won't have the dream you had the next morning.

    • Since you usually only remember the last dream you had, you can remember more dreams by waking up several times throughout the night. We go through a sleep cycle roughly every 90 minutes, so you may find it productive to set an alarm to wake you up every 90 minutes (like 4, 5, 6, or 7.5 hours) after you want to sleep. Dreams in the middle of the night are usually longer than dreams when you first started sleeping. So you may want to wait until at least 4.5 hours until the alarm accidentally wakes you up.
    • This method is only recommended for people who can get enough sleep and sleep easily. For those who don't like it, skip this step.

    Method 3 of 3: For All Next Day

    

    Step 1. Carry a notebook or voice recorder throughout the day

    Often something you saw or heard that day will evoke memories of the dream the night before. Pay attention to these memories and don't be put off. Think about the memory of the dream to see if you can only remember whether it fits with other dreams. It can also help to continue thinking about the dream throughout the day.

    

    Step 2. Go back to bed and lie down

    Sometimes memories can be awakened when you assume the same physical position as when you were dreaming. Try to put your head in the same place on the pillow, keep your body in the same position, and close your eyes. If a dream comes to mind, think about it before you wake up to write it down.

    • Opening your eyes and looking at an object that you first saw when you got out of bed might help.
    • Try to create the same atmosphere in the room. Close the curtains, turn off the lights, and avoid noise.

    

    Step 3. Do it again the next night

    Remembering dreams takes effort and practice. The more aware you are of your dream, the easier it will be to remember it. Make it a habit to remember your dreams and write them down first as the first thing you do when you wake up. Over time the process will become easier..

    

    Step 4. Pay attention to the dream pattern

    In the end, you will discover what factors can help to remember dreams. Try to pay attention to patterns related to when you go to bed and wake up in the morning, your room temperature, and what you eat at night. Do any of these factors seem to affect your ability to remember dreams?

    Tips

    • When jotting down dreams, remember that note-taking is personal. Don't write down your dreams until they seem plausible to other people because you may change the events in your dreams so that they are easier for others to understand. Always write down what you think is real and not what makes sense.
    • When you jot down your dreams, it's easier to remember them if you write them down (or speak) as if they were in your present state (use "I was going" instead of "I went yesterday").
    • Better yet, there is no light at all while sleeping, because light will make it more difficult for you to remember dreams. Place pens and paper in an easy-to-reach place where you don't have to open your eyes (be careful not to fall asleep again). With practice, you'll be able to write more fluently without looking at the paper.
    • If you have the same dream the next day or the following week, write down the dream as well. A recurring dream is something to watch out for. The dream may have a special meaning.
    • Alternatively, you can also use a small flashlight to help record your dreams at night. Cover the flashlight lens with three layers of masking tape so you can see your notes easily at night, but also not so bright that you won't be able to close your eyes easily.
    • Take vitamin B6 before bed. This will make the dream clearer.
    • Some songs will keep the dream ingrained in the memory for a long time. Try to listen to music before bed and see the results!
    • If you are someone who likes to talk while sleeping, you can record it using a video camera or cell phone. You can also use a voice recorder. Play the tape recorder after you have written down what you remember. This will evoke memories of the dream you had and the dream you couldn't remember when you first woke up.
    • If you have a computer or mobile device nearby, go to a site that publishes dreams like Uprophecy or Dream Moods where you can use them to record dreams.
    • Record exactly what happened without trying to make sense of the dream. For example, if your dream started from inside your house and then you find yourself in the woods, avoid the temptation to assume you are walking outside. Dreams that are foreign to everyday experiences can be lost if you try to apply logic to the incident.
    • Once you've memorized most of your dreams, try to arrange them in the right order. This will help, because it's easier to remember something if you know what happened first and always write it down first.
    • If you've had a dream and want to remember it, don't worry. When you are dreaming, you are in a different mind. Try to do lucid dreaming (awareness that you are dreaming). When you are in these thoughts and you are lucid dreaming, sometimes you have the ability to remember your old dreams! Think of it as if you have a part of the brain that stores dreams and you can only access them by dreaming.
    • Some foods such as almonds and cherries can make dreams more vivid. The clearer the dream, the easier it will be for you to remember it. [4]

    Things that must be considered

    • If you have trouble sleeping or have trouble getting enough sleep, don't try to record a dream in the middle of the night. Come back to sleep again.
    • Be careful interpreting dreams. Dream interpretation is not a science, so don't jump to conclusions and don't place too much importance on dreams. For example, a dream about death does not mean that someone will die or that something bad will happen.