Help With Dream Recall

[mustachecake]

It's not that I don't remember my dreams. It's just that when I wake up, I forget to write it down. Or I'll think to myself that I don't remember enough about my dream, or it doesn't make any sense, so I just won't write it down that day. I've been having very poor dream recall lately. Any advice?

[Peregrinus]

Write it down. No excuses. Seriously, even if you don't think that you remember enough, write down what you remember. Even if all I remember is a vague impression of a dream, I'll write it down. Oftentimes this prompts me to remember other details about that dream or even remember entire other dreams that I hadn't recalled upon awakening (this morning for instance, I was writing down a fleeting memory of one dream and suddenly remembered two others in quite some detail). Honestly, a couple weeks ago when I started up my dream journal again, I was remembering on average one, maybe two, dreams per night, and now my average is up around 5 (assuming a decent night's sleep). I won't let myself get out of bed until I write at least something down. Maybe try keeping your room chilly at night, so that you don't want to get out of bed and are therefore more inclined to lay there under the warm covers until you remember something. Keep your journal next to your bed, preferably next to a lamp or one of those pens with a tiny light at the tip. Good luck, and remember: no excuses.

[Howie]

Don't give your self a chance to forget to write it down. WRITE IT DOWN after you awake from the dream!!

[mustachecake]

Originally posted by Peregrinus Write it down. *No excuses. *Seriously, even if you don't think that you remember enough, write down what you remember. *Even if all I remember is a vague impression of a dream, I'll write it down. *Oftentimes this prompts me to remember other details about that dream or even remember entire other dreams that I hadn't recalled upon awakening (this morning for instance, I was writing down a fleeting memory of one dream and suddenly remembered two others in quite some detail). *Honestly, a couple weeks ago when I started up my dream journal again, I was remembering on average one, maybe two, dreams per night, and now my average is up around 5 (assuming a decent night's sleep). *I won't let myself get out of bed until I write at least something down. *Maybe try keeping your room chilly at night, so that you don't want to get out of bed and are therefore more inclined to lay there under the warm covers until you remember something. *Keep your journal next to your bed, preferably next to a lamp or one of those pens with a tiny light at the tip. *Good luck, and remember: *no excuses. Good point. Yeah I will do that. But the thing about staying under the warm covers - that is what doesn't make me want to get up and turn the light on to write. Staying there confortably makes me want to just lay there for a while, snoozing my alarm if it's set. I would think getting out of bed would prompt me more to start writing.

[Peregrinus]

Originally posted by mustachecake Good point. Yeah I will do that. But the thing about staying under the warm covers - that is what doesn't make me want to get up and turn the light on to write. Staying there confortably makes me want to just lay there for a while, snoozing my alarm if it's set. *I would think getting out of bed would prompt me more to start writing. Everybody's different. Do what works for you. I have a little lamp next to my bed that I can flip on without having to throw off the covers that works well, but what I've found really helpful is this pen that has a green light at the tip. The light is bright enough to illuminate maybe a 2-3 inch diameter circle on your page but isn't bright enough to snap you so fully awake that you forget your dreams. It allows you to hover in that half-awake, half-asleep zone while you record your dreams. I don't know where I got mine, but I believe there was a thread about something similar somewhere on this board.

[mustachecake]

ALl right thanks! I wrote 3 dreams last night! I almost got lucid in one also.

[Peregrinus]

Wow, that's fast progress. Congrats!

[Amethyst Star]

Congrats! Also, if you're having trouble with gradually forgetting your dreams, here's what I do. Lay in bed and try to replay your dream(s) in your head. Once you think you've got them well enough in mind, then write down a summary using one or two word phrases. Once that's done, write out the whole thing. That's just something I've found helpful. -Amé

[bigo20003]

Those light up pens are from Staples, and are only a couple bucks. At my staples, theyre in the front, by the "buisness pen" section, on the counter. (Hope this helps, even though not all Staples are identical.)

[queensofthestoneage]

well hey, im new to both this forum and lucid dreaming.. i read an article about it and since then for the last few days all ive done is told done reality testing, etc etc... but the problem is.. i seem to have THE WORST dream recall... i dont remember ANY dreams. ever... should i just give up all hope or does anyone have some efficient way that theyve used to make a drastic change on their dream recall.. has anyone else been this bad and is now at least somewhat good? can i get as good as anybody else? im full of enthusiasm and all so motivations shouldnt be the problem... and even if i cant become lucid somehow... it would be heaven to even recall dreams.... oh yeah and btw...i have a very wild imagination. imagery skills.. i paint pretty odd things just out of my mind...if that helps at all..

[Hate]

Hello, Queensofthestoneage, and welcome to Dream Views! You could try waking up after sleeping some hours (5-6) when you would most propably be in the middle of a REM period. It's more likely that you recall a dream when you wake up from it. Also, one thing that helps me with my recall is self suggestion. When you go to bed keep thinking "Tonight I will dream. I will recall a dream when I wake up" and stuff like that. PS. Kiva nähdä muitakin suomalaisia täällä

[queensofthestoneage]

Should I use an alarm clock or make myself wake up after the wanted time? The latter might be a little hard, since I'm pretty new to my mind and body. I've wasted time. (Joo niin on, en ajatellu että olisi täällä ollut)

[Hate]

I've understood that it'd be better to use self suggestion if you only can make it work. Someone here told that when you use an alarm clock you wake up too fast and will more likely forget yourself having a dream.

[queensofthestoneage]

YAY, this morning. RIGHT after waking up I remembered a dream! But my god, It was so boring. I was just at the school diner. And the diner had run out of knives. And people kept coming to borrow them from people at my table.

[enfilade]

Hey Q.O.T.S.A, Congrats on remembering your dream. I can relate to you when it comes to dream recall, and boring dreams. I have a hard time remembering dreams as well, but i read this the other day and it kind of helped me: One of the most important things is to not want it too much. When you are trying to force yourself to remember a dream, it won't work. Try to let it come naturally. Practice makes perfect. When you are consciously intending to remember your dreams, your subconscious will pick this up and you will notice that you remember more and more of your dreams. In the beginning it may be just a fragment , or a feeling. But it will develop into complete dreamscenarios. Be patient and persevere. I combined that with everything else i have learned and it kind of just chilled my thoughts out a little bit. Good luck on your journey!

[daydreaming]

Originally posted by Hate I've understood that it'd be better to use self suggestion if you only can make it work. Someone here told that when you use an alarm clock you wake up too fast and will more likely forget yourself having a dream. self suggestion never works for me

[SantaDreamsToo]

self control is the only thing that I can think of, make yourself write down all your dreams, used to mine were all stupid and meaningless, but since I have been with my DJ they have been becoming stories