5 Ways to Improve Your Dream Recollection Skills

Introduction

Science tells us that every single person dreams at night whether we remember them or not. Many people say they “don’t dream,” and if you find yourself being among that group but want to begin recalling them, then this is the place for you.

I don’t think it’s a secret that I’ve had very obscure dreams in my life. However, for all the obscurity, it has taken time and practice to recall them on a regular basis. During childhood and early adulthood, memories of dreams always came in flashes and were fragmented. Still, I had fantastical dreams at best and horrible nightmares at worst and knew this because I would carry the emotions from the night upon first waking.

A few years ago, I began considering the benefits of dream recollection. If I recalled them, what could I understand about the current state of my mind? Was I anxious or stressed? Or was I repressing an old memory? Or was it something more mundane like developing an interest in something I came across the other day?

I began trying different methods but came down to a few that were most effective. Regardless of your reasoning for wanting to recall dreams, there is value to it that may activate the logical and emotional parts of yourself.

Here are five things to do and NOT to do to start recalling your dreams.

1. Make your bedroom a comfortable place for sleep.

Having a relaxing place to settle in at night is critical for good sleep. Without good sleep, you will have a harder time remembering things, even when initially waking up.

I know many of us have small homes or use the bedroom for multiple purposes like working or various hobbies. It may sound redundant but keeping your bedroom tidy really does help. My bedroom has quite a bit of things stuffed in it, but it’s arranged in a way that doesn’t cause stress. Most importantly, there are also a few things I added to the space to give it more of a cozy feel.

Adding small items to your space that make it uniquely yours creates an environment ripe for good sleep, and with it, optimal dream recollection in the morning. Here are a few things you could add:
– A nightstand
– A small lamp
– Your current read or favorite book (this will also help with memory!)
– An alarm clock
– Lavender flowers

You don’t have to follow this specific list but you will definitely want to avoid using electronics as much as you can right before sleep and within the first 30 minutes of waking up to maintain a healthy circadian rhythm.

2. Do NOT use your phone as soon as you wake up.

Out of all things that was hurting my progress the most, it was phone usage in the mornings by far. I used to wake up and scroll through social media before the sun came up. Before I knew it, that dream I wanted to remember faded from my conscious memory.

Remember the alarm clock I recommended? I highly suggest keeping one on your nightstand instead of using your phone. Amazon sells a lot of great ones that are affordable.

Even if you only use your phone in the morning to turn off your morning alarm, there’s a much higher likelihood of checking notifications and social media accounts that will distract you from recalling anything.

3. Keep a journal by your bedside.

It doesn’t have to be a fancy leatherback notebook by any means, but if that helps glamorize the process, then do it! I recommend keeping the notebook and pen as close to your pillow as possible so that it’s the first thing you see upon waking.

For the best journaling experience, use the following guidelines:

• If you don’t remember anything at all, write anyway. You never know what happens when you put pen to paper.
• Write down every last detail, including colors, shapes, what objects, people, and environments you saw, how it felt, etc.
• Pause. Reflect on how the dream made you feel and if it struck a chord with anything currently happening in your physical or emotional world.

I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to do this. The more journaling you do, the better you will become at recalling. Take your time and let thoughts run freely as you write.

4. Do NOT have an inconsistent sleep schedule.

I get it, life gets busy and chaotic; and sometimes, a consistent sleep schedule isn’t possible. It’s important to have as much consistency as possible to avoid brain fog in the mornings. If you’re experiencing brain fog in the mornings, then you are far less likely to recall anything.

If you’re a night owl, that’s okay! You do NOT have to be a morning person to recall dreams better. However, still try to go to sleep around the same time daily. Whether you’re a night owl or an early bird, there are two things to do that will help build consistency.

The first thing to do is to set an alarm (on your phone or otherwise) one hour before bedtime. This will alert you to stop using electronics and begin preparing your body for sleep.

Since it could be easy to lose track of time after the first alarm, there will be a second alarm to follow which will alert you to go to sleep. Setting both alarms are critical in the beginning stages of recalling dreams, as these will help build routine and patterns necessary for recollection.

5. Keep an open mind.

As you begin to recall dreams, some of them may feel so strange and foreign that your conscious mind almost wants to believe it didn’t happen that way. I’ve encountered instances where I’ve thought, “Surely THAT didn’t happen” or “I wouldn’t even think of that!”

To recall dreams, you have to embrace your imagination a bit. The unconscious mind is like a jungle that is difficult and mysterious to navigate.

Even if all you remember are a few shapes and noises, record it. You may be surprised at what could hold meaning. On several occasions, I’ve looked back at old journal entries and thought, “Ohhh!!! I get it now!” It’s an imperfect process, but keeping an open mind will ensure that you embrace the wild unknown.

Conclusion & What’s Next

Although some are imperfect methods, I promise that if you build consistency, you will see results with time. Be patient and don’t get stuck on specific details or elements in your dreams. After all, there is no single approach to dream interpretation (I’m looking at you, Freud).

Thanks for tuning in! I’m excited to share next week’s post. If you’re a bookworm, you’re going to love it (that’s right, it’s time for book club)!