If you have a disturbing nightmare or just want to dream about a certain topic, there are many ways to influence your dreams. From mentally preparing yourself to controlling your environment to dreaming itself, you can take a number of steps to influence the nature of your dreams.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Prepare Mentally
Step 1. Think about what you want to dream about before bedtime
You can have deep control over your dreams by mentally preparing yourself before bed. If you want to dream of a specific person or topic, thinking about it before going to bed can influence your dreams.
- Many people try to solve problems in dreams. If you're not sure what to do with a project, maybe you want to use your dream to find a solution. To do this, think about the problem before going to bed. Creating visualizations can be especially helpful at this stage, especially if the problem is not abstract. If it's a personal issue, imagine the person you're having trouble with. If you're struggling with a project, imagine a blank canvas or page.
- If you want to dream of a specific subject or person, visualize it. If you are trying to dream of a deceased relative, try looking at a picture of the person before going to bed. If you want to dream about a place, look at photos of the place before going to bed. Imagine the person, place, or subject you want to dream about when you fall asleep. This can help direct your dream to the right topic.
Step 2. Remind yourself that you want to influence your dreams before bed
Reminding yourself verbally and mentally that you want to control your dreams can provide some help in influencing your dreams. Before going to bed, think or say to yourself, "Tonight, I want to feel aware that I'm dreaming. Tonight, I want to control my dreams."
Step 3. Get enough sleep
Getting enough sleep each night is essential to directing your dreams. The stage of sleep known as REM sleep is when you tend to have most of your dreams. Lack of sleep will lead to a smaller portion of REM sleep. Try to get 8 to 9 hours of sleep every night. This will increase your ability to influence your dreams.
Step 4. Consider using a smartphone app
Apps available for smartphones can be used to help influence dreams. If you're having trouble controlling your dreams on your own, consider purchasing a smartphone app.
- The application works by providing a choice of various environmental sounds. Options include "Tranquil Park", "Shuttle" or "Tokyo Trip". The noises usually start in the morning, when you are most likely to be in REM sleep. Some apps even detect your movement during sleep and start playing the selected sound when you stop moving and your body is still during REM sleep.
- Some apps have a narration reminding you that you are sleeping. The narration will encourage you to take control of your dreams, which can lead you to dream very clearly.
- Remember, not all apps affect everyone in the same way. Even if you use the app correctly, you may not be able to influence your dreams effectively.
Method 2 of 3: Influencing Certain Factors
Step 1. Try adjusting sounds and smells while you sleep
Sounds and smells in your sleeping environment can affect your dreams. If you hear a film in the background, for example, your dream could take on a certain theme from the film. Try to regulate your dream environment as much as possible to influence your dreams according to your choice.
- Avoid unwanted background noise. This could mean turning on the white noise-generating engine. If you want a quiet dream, consider playing soft, soothing music or another soft sound in the background.
- Smells can also affect sleep. If someone is cooking bacon in the morning, you may dream of bacon. Try to fill your room with smells that remind you of what you want to dream about. For example, maybe you want to dream of a childhood Christmas with your family and you associate the smell of fir trees with that time. Try buying a spruce-scented air freshener. Smell is closely related to memory. If you're dreaming of a specific person, applying a little perfume or cologne he's worn in his life on your wrist before bed can help.
Step 2. Recognize that sleeping on your stomach can affect your dreams
If you often sleep on your stomach, understand that this can affect your dreams. When the breath becomes short, you are more likely to have dreams of a sexual nature. If you don't want to have erotic dreams, avoid sleeping on your stomach.
Step 3. Use cheese
Certain cheeses can affect dreams. If you are a cheese eater, you can use cheese to influence your dreams
- One study showed a link between cheese and the types of dreams experienced by various participants. Blue cheese tends to produce strange dreams. Cheddar cheese makes people dream of celebrities. People who eat Red Lancashire cheese have dreams about memories and events in the past.
- If you want to use cheese to change dreams, be careful. Cheese can sometimes cause indigestion, causing difficulty sleeping. If you choose to eat cheese before bed, consume it in small amounts.
Step 4. Learn how mood can affect dreams
Moods can have a profound impact on dreams. If you are feeling sad or depressed, the colors of your dream may become faded or hazy. If you sleep feeling restless, you can dream of disasters such as hurricanes or floods.
Method 3 of 3: Dreaming
Step 1. Develop ways to check that you are dreaming
Dreams can sometimes be very close to real life. For this reason, it can be difficult to realize that you are dreaming. Develop ways to distinguish between dreams and reality.
- Time is one way of distinguishing between dreams and reality. Time is very inconsistent in dreams. For example, the clock may say that it is 8 am and then 2 pm after that. If you're not sure whether you're dreaming or not, take a look at the clock.
- Reading in dreams can often be difficult. Many people cannot read in dreams. People who can read in dreams often state that what they read is nonsense, words are confusing, or cannot be interpreted. Trying to read a book or magazine can help you realize that you are dreaming.
Step 2. Stay in bed as soon as you wake up
Since many people want to influence dreams as a way to deal with problems, it is important that you remember your dreams. Don't jump out of bed, as leaving REM sleep can cause you to forget your dreams. Try to stay in bed for a moment and remember your dream. Start by trying to remember the emotions that accompanied your dream. This can help trigger yourself to remember other details.
Step 3. Consider keeping a dream journal
A dream journal is another way to help remember your dreams. Record your dreams in as much detail as possible after getting out of bed. Keeping a dream journal can help you revisit your dreams at a later date to interpret their possible meanings.
Related article
- Doing Hypnosis for Yourself
- Calm the Imagination before Sleep
- Interpreting Your Dreams
- Dreaming Conscious
- Remembering Dreams
- Get the Dream You Want
- Stop Having Nightmares
- Controlling Dreams
