Thread: Dream journals?

I'm not sure if the DJ is something really required for lucid dreaming, as I'm fairly new here, but everywhere I read about how to do LD, how to get better at this or that, they always mention the imporance of writing a DJ, so I guess that it helps. Somewhere I even read that if you don't practice the dream memory, you can also have LDs and don't remember them, as if it was just another dream.

In any case... my motivation? Well... my willing and my wish to have a decent LD finally, as all I've had for now are small, non-vivid, short dreams. When I wake up, even if I feel lazy, I do a review of the dream(s) I can remember (eyes closed), and also try to go back in time to remember more, so if I remember I'm in a bus, I try to remember how I got there, why, etc... Then, when it's all there (sometimes scenes from 3-4 dreams), I just think keywords for them and repeat them. I turn on the light, quickly write down these keywords, and then slowly write down the dream. Where I am, with whom, why, doing what, etc...

And thinking the dream was vivid enough to forget it (no need to write), or that you recall too little to write something, are both mistakes. Many times I remembered new fragments or even opened a door to a whole new memory while writing something, and it's amazing how something that was buried there, suddenly comes to mind, making you wonder how could you forget that.

In any case, if you really want LDs to happen and to train your dream memory, then... that should be your motivation. I've been writing mine for about 2-3 weeks now, and in all that time I only missed 2-3 days, for being lazy. And now I regret it because there is no way I can remember that dream. It's funny that even dreams that I noted down, are forgotten, but when I open the DJ and read, I even laugh while remembering them.

So, try pulling that switch in your brain that tells you that it is priority... if you make it something rutinary in your wake up, you won't even have to think about if you want to do it or not... same as putting on some clothes before going out to street.

Good luck.

Thanks I guess i'll have to use a bit of the brain bullet program to pull the switch, so to speak.

I don't think the journal is required if you have good dream recall, but just writing your dreams down can greatly improve your recall. I am lazy though and I hate waking up anyway, so my first thought is always "ugh, I'll do it later." But later I don't remember the dream. A lot of times I wake up in the middle of the night and write down notes or even the whole dream as I remember it, then go back to sleep. Doing that I've been able to record 3+ fully detailed dreams in a night instead of the usual 1 or none if I wait till I am actually getting up. You have to make yourself do it at first I guess, but the reward is not only better recall but being able to go back and read your old dreams that you would have otherwise forgotten. I've been writing mine down off and on for like 12 years (regrettably the last 2 years were mostly off) and it's really cool to go back and look.

As Irreo said, writing down a fragment can often trigger you to remember more of it. This morning when I woke up I was remembering about 3 or 4 little confusing fragments, and jotted down some notes. When I got up and started recalling the details to write it all down, it turned out all those little fragments were part of one long dream that just kept coming back to me as I wrote it.

I do use the term "write" loosely, I hate writing in a physical journal. When I first wake up I'll usually tap away at my phone or tablet for a while and then email it to myself for editing on the computer where it goes into my actual dream journal. It's all digital and searchable, it's easier and faster than writing it on paper. You don't have to keep your journal a certain way, do what works for you. You can write it, type it, speech to text (didn't work so well for me), or even draw it or do audio recordings. I always kept a dream journal just because I thought dreams were interesting to ponder over, and that was my motivation before I knew what LD was. Now I want to remember my dreams and try to spot recurring dream signs and elements to better become lucid or have a look into my subconscious.

The point of a Dream Journal is to place importance on remembering your dreams, and maybe of a way to organize them, that's about it. If you find a different way to do that, then you definitely don't need a DJ, because they aren't totally necessary.

*Moved to Dream Signs and Recall

If you want to write down your dreams, it helps to set yourself a goal. Without motivation it just won't happen.

Goals must be S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-targeted). Spend some time and come up with a goal that meets those criteria and affirm that you will reach it before the deadline.

I set myself a goal to remember 4 dreams in the next week and the following night remembered three dreams in one night.

I didn't read the other answers so this could've been said, but it takes 21 days to start a habit if you do the journal every day for 20 days or 21 then it wont even be a challenge anymore. I know it can be hard to find motivation especially right when you wake up but just do it and you wont regret it