How to remember your dreams (and NOT waste 1/3 of your LIFE!!)

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...

The kit that is selling here has a really strong guarantee, and it's from a very reputable company. Give it a go. I did!

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.

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!

If you don't think you're up to holding a pen correctly and writing things down at 4 o'clock in the morning, then maybe you want to sing your dreams into a digital voice recorder. Transfer the files to your computer, and you have a digital dream journal.

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

Open your eyes, hear the cool sounds of your iPod, and smile, as the sun caresses your beautiful face...

Ahhhh..... It must be time for another fabulous day!

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

5 tips to remembering your dreams

Paste these into a text editor like 'Word' and print these out

Here are 5 tips that will work brilliantly to help you remember your dreams.

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

Here are 5 more tips that will work brilliantly to help you remember your dreams.

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

The ONE book you need to read about sleep and dreams. The ONE book. If it's not in this book, it's not worth knowing.

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!

Reply

anaamhussain Jul 31, 2011 @ 2:06 pm | delete

Incredibly amazing lens :) Really impressive work!

Reply

AliGator1928 Jul 8, 2011 @ 7:53 pm | delete

Amazing lens! Ive been having nightmares lately but last night i actually had a good dream. Today i researched about dreams. (by the way im only 12! :) I wanted to kno how i could stop having night mares and have good dreams instead. And i found this! Its amazing!! I cant wait to fall asleep tonight. I read everything on this website. I started my first dream journal. I wrote about my last good dream and how i felt. Am i of to a good start? Usually i dont want to sleep cuz im scared im gonna have a bad dream. Are there anymore tips on having lucid dreams? I wanto control them and have adventures and have fun. I want to escape into my dream world. Is it possible?

Reply

AliGator1928 Jul 8, 2011 @ 7:52 pm | delete

Amazing lens! Ive been having nightmares lately but last night i actually had a good dream. Today i researched about dreams. (by the way im only 12! :) I wanted to kno how i could stop having night mares and have good dreams instead. And i found this! Its amazing!! I cant wait to fall asleep tonight. I read everything on this website. I started my first dream journal. I wrote about my last good dream and how i felt. Am i of to a good start? Usually i dont want to sleep cuz im scared im gonna have a bad dream. Are there anymore tips on having lucid dreams? I wanto control them and have adventures and have fun. I want to escape into my dream world. Is it possible?

Reply

Cath1125 Mar 5, 2011 @ 10:28 am | delete

Last night I dreamt of Turkeys walking down the road, they were trying to get away from a culling factory and they kept saying to me "Pick me, Pick Me". I know weird.

Reply

Cath1125 Mar 5, 2011 @ 10:27 am | delete

Oh my God, I have the weirdest dreams, and quite often I find that when I dream, something in that dream will either be on the news, or tv or paper the next. People hate hearing my dreams, because they say they are really sharp.

Reply

GrinningFool Jan 6, 2011 @ 8:20 pm | delete

I wish I dreamed more. I think it is good for your brain to sort things while sleeping.

Reply

youngz93 Dec 19, 2010 @ 7:15 am | delete

i'm experiencing lucid dreams every thursday.... at first it's not actually a dream... more like a nightmare and sleep paralysis. but after a few week it's getting weird... i've experiencing (sorry) sex with a guy i don't even know... (i'm a guy... does that make me gay?)... the next morning... when i watch drama television series.. i realise that guy in my dreams is one of the actor.... WEIRD HUH!....

Reply

JaguarJulie Dec 18, 2010 @ 12:58 pm | delete

Gosh, I surely wish, of late, that it was indeed 1/3 of my life. Dreams are windows to the soul and sure can be creatively colorful; you know?

Reply

scar4 Dec 3, 2010 @ 3:27 am | delete

Usually I forget my dreams in the morning and can't grasp it any more.

Reply

Mrmakingusmile Nov 22, 2010 @ 12:18 pm | delete

Good info. Thanks for making me smile. Am I dreaming this right now. LOL

Reply

Kitty Jan 5, 2010 @ 10:31 pm | delete

I'm really tired just thinking about dreaming now. I'm going to start going to bed earlier. I'll probably start sleeping all weekend just to dream. I allready have a dream journal I didn't know they actually help you remember dreams. I was hoping they would they would which is why I started it in the first place I want to know every single one of them! My dreams I like to remember because they're always lovely and awesome I never have such unbearable nightmares, unless you consider dry cake a nightmare then sure I've had one or two. Otherwise all of my dreams are good. I remember being locked in an ice cream store once. Could you imagine how happy I was?
My favorites are when I have fairy wings and I can fly or a mermaid tail or sometimes I grow fangs or can breath underwater. I hope this will help me have more I'm sure the info will help. I've never had control I don't think but my sister has control ALL THE TIME. It isn't fair.

Reply

tweety0126 Mar 17, 2009 @ 10:12 pm | delete

Interesting lens. I'm fasinated by dreams but have never considered a dream journal; maybe I will now. Thanks 5* from me.

Reply

motorpurrr Aug 9, 2008 @ 9:02 pm | delete

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.

Reply

Joan4 Jul 10, 2008 @ 9:05 am | delete

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.

Reply

Luckylasagne1 Apr 15, 2008 @ 9:58 am | delete

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.

Reply

Beaddoodler Mar 31, 2008 @ 1:56 pm | delete

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

Reply

pyle_mountain Mar 16, 2008 @ 4:13 pm | delete

This is an interesting lens. I've never really thought about doing anything to help me remember my dreams. Five stars from me!

Reply

Piksychick Feb 25, 2008 @ 10:20 am | delete

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.

Reply

rms Feb 7, 2008 @ 12:02 pm | delete

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.

Reply

MuddyLaBoue Jan 8, 2008 @ 1:19 am | delete

Great lens. I've had many vivid dreams, one of them life-changing. Amazing what the subconscious can tell us.

Reply

sleepy2 Jun 27, 2007 @ 6:50 am | delete

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.

Reply

Behoz Jun 26, 2007 @ 2:19 am | delete

Hey...interesting lens you have here.

-Andrew
subconscious mind power

Reply

Marica Apr 1, 2007 @ 11:09 am | delete

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.

Reply

Amel Mar 12, 2007 @ 10:17 pm | delete

Thanks for this great Lense. I confess...I never remember my dreams.

Reply

Margaret_Schaut Feb 1, 2007 @ 7:17 pm | delete

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!

Reply

Dec 11, 2006 @ 6:14 am | delete

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.

Reply

cre8ivegrl Oct 24, 2006 @ 2:23 pm | delete

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

Reply

MrLewisSmile Sep 9, 2006 @ 3:30 am | delete

Thank you, everyone, for your beautiful words!

Reply

ajboysen Jul 14, 2011 @ 11:22 am | delete

is it normal to not dream in color because as long as i can remember i have

Reply

Lilly Sep 9, 2006 @ 12:16 am | delete

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!

Reply

oniyagi Sep 8, 2006 @ 11:23 pm | delete

Amazing lens Lewis! Great photos on your flickr account too!

Reply

janebid Sep 5, 2006 @ 7:12 am | delete

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.

Reply

KimberlyDawnWells Aug 8, 2006 @ 1:24 pm | delete

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. ;)