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Ever woken up absolutely certain that you'd had a powerful dream, but couldn't quite remember what the dream was about?
Learning to remember your dreams is probably easier than you think. In fact, you may be starting the process just by reading this article! By studying dreams, learning about the process of dreaming, you're teaching your subconscious mind that dreams are important to your waking life. The more important a subject is to you, the more likely you are to remember it -- and in this case, that means remembering more of your dreams!
Discussing dreams with others is an easy way to improve your memory of dreams. Most people enjoy talking about dreams. You're likely to find a ready audience at breakfast, in your car pool, or on your morning coffee breaks. Don't forget to return the favor; listening to someone else's dream may trigger a forgotten memory of your own.
Write down your dreams whenever possible. Keep a notebook and pen beside your bed, and another in the bathroom. When you wake in the night, jot down any dreams or dream fragments you remember, or draw a quick sketch of a dream symbol or scene. Even if the notes seem to be nonsense by the light of day, the process will help develop the habit of better dream recall over-all.
Positive affirmations are another helpful tool. As you fall asleep, tell yourself: "Tonight, I will dream... and I will remember my dreams." Experiment with different methods: say the affirmation out loud, write it out long-hand, try counting repetitions on a beaded bracelet, or simply repeat it over and over under your breath until you fall asleep.
Post memos to trigger your dream recall, and place them wherever you are likely to glance when you first wake up. Leave suggestive notes like "What were you dreaming?" or "I was dreaming about... " anywhere that seems appropriate: on your beside table, on the bathroom mirror, even taped to the coffee maker or breakfast cereal box -- wherever your sleepy eyes might land in the middle of the night, or first thing in the morning.
Be sure you are sleeping well. If your sleep is often interrupted, you may not be spending much time in the state of sleep when the most vivid dreams occur. This REM (or Rapid Eye Movement) state of sleep occurs in roughly 90 minute cycles. If you are woken up before reaching it, your dreams may appear more thought-like than dream-like. Yet even these dream-thoughts can be valuable, and are worth making the effort to remember.
Try to avoid sudden jolts when you wake up. Trade in your trusty old radio/buzzer alarm for something with a gentler tone. Loud buzzing can jolt you into awareness too quickly for good dream recall, and radio programming may distract you from dreams that linger on the edge of consciousness. The best choices may be the new CD-player alarms that can wake you up to your favorite recordings of nature sounds or gentle classical music.
Following any or all of these tips should soon have you not only remembering more of your dreams, but dreaming more vividly, more creatively, and in ways that are more relevant to your life.
Happy Dreaming!
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