Everyone dreams. Unless you are a very different person from others, you dream every time you enter REM sleep. The real trick, therefore, is not learning to dream, but understanding how it is possible to remember dreams upon awakening. Methods that help the brain remember them, by blocking sensory stimuli in the morning and keeping a diary of dream experiences, can allow you to recall your dreams in more detail.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Train the Brain
Step 1. Make the decision to remember what you dream about
Some people have more memory problems than others. If you belong to this category, maybe you can make a point of memorizing what you are going to dream about before going to bed. It will probably seem nonsense, but gaining this awareness helps you communicate to the mind to remember.
- It may take a few weeks for this process to work.
- In fact, you are likely to dream an average of 5 times a night if you usually sleep 8 hours, as is generally recommended.
Step 2. Do not set the alarm on
When you can, don't set it. If you want to remember a dream, you need to wake up after REM sleep. Thus, the alarm can interrupt sleep phases at the wrong time. Also, if you move or hear a noise, what you are dreaming about is likely to vanish. When the alarm goes off, it makes such a loud sound that it probably forces you to get moving to turn it off immediately. By not setting it, you have the opportunity to wake up more gradually and without further sensory stimulation.
Step 3. Avoid sleeping pills
People who do not fall into a deep sleep find it easier to remember what they dream about. This is because they naturally wake up multiple times during the night, often as they finish a sleep cycle. If you are used to taking a sleeping pill to get a long sleep, you may want to avoid taking it for a few nights to see if you can remember what you dream about.
Always ask your doctor if you should stop taking a drug, especially when it comes to a medicine that has been prescribed for you
Step 4. Drink lots of water
Another way to remember dreams is to ingest large quantities of water before going to bed, about 4 glasses. This method can help you recall what you are dreaming of because a full bladder interrupts sleep multiple times during the night, often just as you come out of REM sleep. Since you will come to wake up after this stage, it is much more likely that you will remember what you have dreamed of.
Step 5. Avoid alcohol
Alcohol tends to compromise dream activity because it suppresses the REM phase. Therefore, to boost your dreams, you should avoid consumption, especially in the evening.
Antidepressants can also produce the same effect, but you should talk to your doctor to find out if you can switch or eliminate these drugs because you don't dream. Do not stop taking antidepressants without first checking with your doctor
Step 6. Lose some sleep
While it is always best to get enough sleep, studies have shown that sleep deprivation can help you remember dreams. In reality, when you sleep little, you have to make up for lost sleep and therefore dreams will be more intense.
Step 7. Try incorporating certain foods or supplements into your diet
Some people are able to increase their dream activity by eating certain foods. For example, taking 100 mg of vitamin B6 an hour or two before going to bed could increase the intensity of your dreams. Another option is to consume foods rich in tryptophan, such as chicken, soy, turkey and tuna.
Instead of tryptophan-rich foods, try taking a 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) supplement a couple of hours before bed
Method 2 of 2: Jot down the Dreams
Step 1. Get a notebook in which to write your dreams
You can write down anything on a notepad, but when you need to write down dreams, it is better to dedicate a special notebook. There is a logical criterion behind so much scrupulousness: if you keep a diary in which you write down your dreams, you will not be tempted to take it and move it somewhere else. Choose one that you really like and that inspires your creativity, as it may even inspire you to dream.
- By taking note of your dreams, you will come to remember them better and it will also be easier for you to dream.
- In fact, some theories suggest that the brain does not remember everything it dreams, simply because otherwise it would run the risk of not being able to distinguish reality from dream visions. Others, however, suggest that the brain stores dreams, even if it does not make them available to the process that brings them back to memory.
- Most people forget a lot of dreams because they keep sleeping. In other words, he must wake up to remember what he dreamed, so he is more likely to be able to recall only the dreams he had just before waking up, for example in the morning. However, it is also possible not to remember them at all due to the urgency of daily activities that forces people to get active as soon as they get out of bed.
Step 2. Have a notebook handy
Put a notebook next to your bed so you can use it when you wake up. You need to keep it handy as soon as you open your eyes, as the memory of dreams can suddenly vanish.
Step 3. Take a moment to reflect
When you wake up, don't move. Just think for a moment about what you were dreaming of. Once you have reconstructed a clear picture of your dream in your mind, move on to the next step.
Step 4. Write the dream as soon as you have a clear idea of it
You may be tempted to run to the bathroom before you write down what you were dreaming about, but keep in mind that by then it may have vanished from your mind by now. As soon as you open your eyes, grab your pen and notebook and start jotting down the main images.
- Include the key details, including who was present, what were the most important things you dreamed of, and what the main action was.
- If you wake up in the middle of the night after a dream, write down the details in your notebook before going back to sleep.
Step 5. Write down everything that was said
If someone said something in your dream, don't hesitate to write it down. It could be important if you are going to interpret what you dreamed of.
Step 6. Don't overlook the details
Once you have reconstructed the main structure of the dream, try to focus on the details. Add as many as you can remember, from the time of year to the nuances that concern you.
Step 7. Also take note of the emotions
The mood upon awakening is an important element of the dream. To the details that characterize the dreamed images, add some notes about the emotions you feel as soon as you open your eyes.
Step 8. Use a tape recorder
If you don't like writing, try recording the dream story on your cell phone or some other recording device. Just leave the application open so you can easily access it in the morning.
Just like when you write a dream in your notebook, you should tell as much information as you can and as quickly as possible. If you are unable to remember all the details, describe the general impressions, images and feelings that you can recall. You will likely begin to remember more details as you progress through your story
Step 9. Try drawing it
Another way to capture a dream is to make a sketch in the notebook. Since the dream activity consists mostly of images, it may be easier to draw them than to describe them. It is not necessary to be an artist. You just need to put your dream visions on paper.
