How to remember your dreams (and NOT waste 1/3 of your LIFE!!)
by 43 people |
Ranked #1,190 in How-To, #11,655 overall
Do you want to learn how to remember your dreams?
Do you want to learn how to control your dreams?
Do you want to interpret them?
Do you want to learn about why we dream? Why we sleep?
This lens is your starting block!
Lucid Dreaming
The goal of learning to remember your dreams should be to have more vivid, colourful, exciting dreams. And remember them in the morning.Do you really want to learn how to remember your dreams, only to discover that your dreams are scary or make you feel bad?
Probably not!
For this reason, I have written a follow-up lens to this one explaining how to experience lucid dreams. And lucid dreams are the dreams that you can control!
Don't forget to click here when you've read this page.
Lucid Dreaming Kit *released*
Click below to find out more...
Recommended Products:
- Lucid Dreaming Kit
- This lucid dreaming kit guarantees that you will experience a lucid dream in 7 days. IT's a really strong product with a cast-iron guarantee.
Keeping a dream journal
The key to remembering your dreams
Go ahead, start a Dream Journal tonight! All you need is a pen and paper (and the ability to recall a least some part of you dreams, of course!).A dream journal can be anything from just brief notes on the themes and emotions of your dreams to complete stories based on your dream content.
Check out the fancy dream journals below.
Dream journals on Amazon.com
You NEED a dream journal. Keep all your dreams in one place.
Starting tonight
Homework
The best way to start is to take a new notebook and pen and place them at your bedside. Use this notebook exclusively as your dream journal (for you high techs out there, you can also use a personal voice recorder).As you go to bed tonight, take a moment and reflect on how you are presently feeling. Write the date on a new page and one or two brief adjectives describing how you feel, for example: Relaxed, Tired, Anxious, Emotional, Happy, Stressed, Peaceful, etc.
You will come to why this is important in a moment.
Voice Recorders on Amazon.com
When pen and paper just won't do!
Olympus VN-1000 Digital Voice Recorder
Sing your dreams at 4 o'clock in the morning into this marvellously cheap digital voice recorder.
Amazon Price: (as of 07/14/2009) 
If you wake in the night
Dimming the lights...
If you awake from a dream during the night, make sure you immediately write down a few notes about what you were dreaming. What kind of dream were you having? What details can you remember? How do you feel upon waking up? Why can't you see what you are writing?Your tip here is to get a small desk/book light.
Bedside lamps are often too bright for a dream journal entry and wake you enough to stop you from diving straight back into your dream.
Waking in the morning
When you wake up in the morning (hopefully in an unrushed, relaxed manner) keep your eyes closed and reflect on what you were just dreaming, then write down the theme, details, your emotions, etc.Don't worry if you wake up and don't remember dreaming at all. Just because you have a dream journal handy doesn't mean your dreams will instantly be at the forefront of your mind.
But they will be with practice.
If you're an iPod devotee you might want to wake up to the soothing sounds of your music collection by using an iPod clock radio. Check 'em out!
Waking up in style, with Amazon.com
Waking up to your Ipod
Ahhhh..... It must be time for another fabulous day!
iHome iH5BR Clock Radio for iPod (Black)
Charge your iPod, have it sing to you as you fall asleep, and have it re-awaken to sing to you again in the morning.
No more waking up to the voice of the annoying radio presenter!
Amazon Price: $59.95 (as of 07/14/2009)
Dream habits
Your emotional mindset...
Soon your dream habits will become apparent. You can analyze how often you remember your dreams and to what detail. More importantly (remember writing down how you felt when you went to bed?) you can discover how your emotional mind set at bedtime affects your dreams and dream recall.This can vary greatly from person to person. Some people have intense and interesting dreams during times of stress, others dream little or have poor quality dreams. You will be able to find out how your bedtime emotions and events in your life affect your dreams.
Lucid Dreaming (the easy way!)
Lucid Dreaming on ebay
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
5 tips to remembering your dreams
Paste these into a text editor like 'Word' and print these out
Practice these and you will start remembering something every morning.
- Maintain good, consistent sleep habits. Not getting enough sleep or going to bed 'dog-tired' can dramatically reduce natural dreaming activity.
- When you go to bed tell yourself that you will remember your dreams. Repeat "I will remember my dreams" to yourself several times as you drift off to sleep. It sounds odd, but this tip has been shown again and again to be one of the most helpful.
- Try to wake up slowly to remain within the 'mood' of your last dream. Buy an alarm clock with a gentle wake setting (sometimes called a progressive wake). Here is one idea:
iHome iPod Alarm Clock Radio - Great if you are an iPod devotee. - Awake at least once during the night, many times this will occur around an REM sleep cycle. Set an alarm or drink a lot of water prior to bed to ensure you have to wake up at least once.
- Think about (but do not dwell upon) your mood/emotions as you drift off to sleep.
5 more tips for remembering your dreams
Paste these into a text editor like 'Word' and print these out
Practice these and you will start remembering something every morning.
- Avoid alcohol near bedtime. Alcohol reduces the frequency and density of REM sleep.
- Keep a pad and pencil next to your bed so you can jot down quick notes about your dream if you awake during the night (you may not remember it by morning) or as soon as you get up in the morning. Just the process of writing things down may help you recall more information about your dreams.
- Start a dream journal. Take your notes and recollections of you dreams (tip 2) and record your dreams in journal or story form. Reading through this dream journal will help you remember your dreams more effectively.
- Discuss your dreams with friends and family members. Just articulating your dreams can help you remember additional details.
- If you awake during the night, think about your previous dream as you go back to sleep. This will help to reinforce the dream for improved dream recall in the morning.
Counting Sheep by Paul Martin
The greatest Sleep and Dreaming book in existence
Counting Sheep: The Science and Pleasures of Sleep and Dreams
Simply the best book you will find on sleep and dreams. Funny, informative, memorable. The best book. There's no debate.
If you're wanting to read on the topic of sleep and dreams, this is the book to end all books.
Amazon Price: (as of 07/14/2009)
Interpreting your dreams
Download your dream interpretation guide right now
Do your dreams have hidden meanings?If they do, wouldn't you like to know them?!
Dream interpretation is not an exact science, but can often give you incredible insight to why you dream what you do.
Find out what all those seemingly unconnected dream objects and situations really mean. Download your own Dream Interpretation Guide here.
"A simple step-by-step guide to accurate interpretation. Written by world renowned dream expert Jane Teresa Anderson"
A handy dream journal tip
Creating titles...
Title your dreams. Just pick something that fits well or is interesting or amusing. The dreams are easier to remember then, and you can also be the highlight of the cocktail party with lines like:"...well, if you want to talk about wild nights, let me tell you about the time I was swimming with Britney Spears in a pool full of baked beans... ...oh, and you should check out the 5* Exceptional lens on squidoo about remembering your dreams."
Lens of the Day
This lens (page) was chosen as Lens of the Day on September 8th.It was chosen and featured because it is an exceptional Squidoo Lens. Enjoy.
Your interesting thoughts and exciting feelings
So what do you reckon?
1). Has my lens helped you with your dreams?
2). Has it helped you find what you were looking for online?
3). Has it helped you find something remarkable that you weren't looking for online?
Let me know your story!
tweety0126 wrote...
Interesting lens. I'm fasinated by dreams but have never considered a dream journal; maybe I will now. Thanks 5* from me.
Posted March 17, 2009
motorpurrr wrote...
Nice Lens. Many times I wish I coould get away with not sleeping so I could get more done. But my mentor tells me that sleep is a very important part of the day, and it's when your day begins. He will love this lens.
Posted August 09, 2008
Joan4 wrote...
Great lens! I love dream analysis! One more easy hint is to put a glass of water beside your bed. Drink only half of it before you go to sleep - the other half when you wake up. Trap your dreams in the water. I have tried this and it does really help.
Posted July 10, 2008
Luckylasagne1 wrote...
Hi,
great post and surprisingly no mention of those masks that alert you to your dream state in order to facilitate lucid dreaming. Carlos Cataneda (of Don Juan fame) also wrote an interesting book on dreaming.
Posted April 15, 2008
Beaddoodler wrote...
I really enjoyed this lens. For years I was sure I didn't dream. When I got my life on an even keel, and the nightmares stopped, I stopped dreaming. . .but a friend pointed out that I just quit remembering them because they were benign, but I needed to remember them because they could help direct my path. I've run across several things that have pointed me to remembering my dreams, so I guess I'd better take your advise and help and get to it!
Thanks again
Posted March 31, 2008
pyle_mountain wrote...
This is an interesting lens. I've never really thought about doing anything to help me remember my dreams. Five stars from me!
Posted March 16, 2008
Piksychick wrote...
Great lens! I remember some dreams that I had when I was 5 or 6 years old. And I would have to say that I love it when I can "go in" and control my dreams. I never knew there was a name for it. Dreaming in colour fascinates me as well.
Posted February 25, 2008
rms wrote...
This topic fascinates me. I remember very few of my dreams and as a writer I'd love to be able to remember more of them. I'm going to try some of your tips.
Posted February 07, 2008
MuddyLaBoue wrote...
Great lens. I've had many vivid dreams, one of them life-changing. Amazing what the subconscious can tell us.
Posted January 08, 2008
sleepy2
Hi thought I'd mention another good place to keep a dream journal in case you want to do it online. The site is http://www.matchadream.com and I've found it pretty cool. It's free which is key.
Posted June 27, 2007
Behoz wrote...
Hey...interesting lens you have here.
-Andrew
subconscious mind power
Posted June 26, 2007
Marica wrote...
Interesting, however why would someone want to remember his dreams?
The best thing to do when you have a nightmare is not telling it to anyone, like this, it will not harm you.
Posted April 01, 2007
Amel wrote...
Thanks for this great Lense. I confess...I never remember my dreams.
Posted March 12, 2007
Margaret_Schaut wrote...
Lewis, you reminded me of an old habit that I let go long ago. I'm encouraged to pick it up again. It amazed me the difficulties that could be solved by 'sleeping on them' and, having the habit of writing down the 'midnight of the soul hour' ideas often took care of persistent difficulties. Tks!
Posted February 01, 2007
HI,
Great lens.I was also into lucid dreaming a few months back and used to keep a diary. I found that I could remember more and more of my dreams and I was able to write more details about my dreams.The most frequent dream of mine was where I would be flying , just seemed like I was floating.
Posted December 11, 2006
cre8ivegrl wrote...
As a long-time lucid dreamer, I had to pop in and say great lens! You've offered quite a bit to think..er, dream about. ~Shel
Posted October 24, 2006
Lilly wrote...
These were great tips. I've done a dream journal for years.I have a pen with a light.I learned that as the dream fades if I just hold my pen on the paper with the intent to write,close my eyes,drift back sleepy, the intent brings the memory.One sentence at a time. Just gently wait with pen.It works!
Posted September 09, 2006
oniyagi wrote...
Amazing lens Lewis! Great photos on your flickr account too!
Posted September 08, 2006
janebid wrote...
I definitely need a digital voice recorder. Some of my best inspirations come in the middle of the night ... but even though I put a pad of paper and pen on my bedside table ... I would forget them by the time I got out of bed, crossed the room and turned the light on.
Posted September 05, 2006
KimberlyDawnWells wrote...
I also recommend the Olympus VN-1000. I used to record my dreams. I have some really WEIRD ones that go in spurts. I use them for inspiration for my novels. ;)
Posted August 08, 2006
MrLewisSmile wrote...
Just testing to make sure this guestbook works, and to get the Guestbook Ball rolling..!
Posted August 02, 2006
Do you have friends?
Any friends who would love to read this page?
Click HERE to forward this page to them.
They'll love you forever.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No
Derivative Works 3.0 License.
My Latest Links
Here are some of my latest links I wish the whole world could see!
1
Get Started Blogging | YourNicheBlog.com
I will build you a top-class niche blog on whatever your topic is, and pack in secret features most bloggers dream of. Your jaw will drop. Take a look...6 points
2
Opt In Forms On Your Lenses | SquidooTricks.com
Get real live opt in forms on your lenses. Build your mailing list faster, be a better marketer, and become better looking (not really).2 points
