Efficiently Dream Journaling?

[Omarsito]

Ok so it's been about a week since I've made a dream journal and so far, so good. Before I even got into lucid dreaming my recall was fairly good and the use of a dream journal has improved it considerably and I'm happy with my results so far. However, with the improvement of my dream recall comes more details that I recall in dreams and a lot more to write throughout the night. I guess what I'm trying to say is, what are some tips on recording dreams in your journal while trying to minimize the time you're awake doing it. What's a more efficient way to log in your dreams so you can get back to bed sooner? I find myself taking 20 minutes sometimes logging in a single dream, and when I'm constantly doing this throughout the night it really adds up in sleep lost. I've read the thread on how to effectively dream journal, but I feel like the way I'm doing it is just fine. I just want to know if anyone's got any tips or methods they use to cut time while not cutting out anything crucial in my dreams. Of course, anything you have to say would be gladly accepted with open mindedness, and thanks in advance.

[clearthoughter]

Get an audio recorder or a recording app on your phone and record them that way. Then, if you want later you can write them down, without losing sleep.

[AstralMango]

Try writing down key words of your dream. When you wake up in the morning and see those words, the dream should come back to you then you can write down the rest.

[Sensei]

I am gonna put up a thread on how to tag soon, but the basics are these: Who What Where Put that at every scene change. I write it down like this Who-what-where. Who-what- where (Space between dreams) Who-what-where. When you wake up, who what and where should be able to bring up enough of a picture to remember the dream. It might help to write down when if it applies, especially if you are a different age or in a different age. Tossing in adjectives is always good. I have a link in my signature for my thread "how to effectively DJ" thread. Check it out.

[AstralMango]

When you wake up, who what and where should be able to bring up enough of a picture to remember the dream. It might help to write down when if it applies, especially if you are a different age or in a different age. Tossing in adjectives is always good. I guess it depends on the type of memory people have, Brandon. Some people only need to write down a few keywords to remember a whole dream, then others need more details. Maybe you should mention that in the "how to tag" thread too? :p People can experiment with this.

[Omarsito]

I actually read your thread on effectively dream journaling. I'll definitely give it a shot when I have more time to write in the morning. Thanks for the tip I am gonna put up a thread on how to tag soon, but the basics are these: Who What Where Put that at every scene change. I write it down like this Who-what-where. Who-what- where (Space between dreams) Who-what-where. When you wake up, who what and where should be able to bring up enough of a picture to remember the dream. It might help to write down when if it applies, especially if you are a different age or in a different age. Tossing in adjectives is always good. I have a link in my signature for my thread "how to effectively DJ" thread. Check it out.

[Sensei]

Have you tried writing down these three things instead of random tags? I will mention it! I actually started by writing a lot more and have gotten it down to these three through trial and error of remembered dreams

[Omarsito]

Get an audio recorder or a recording app on your phone and record them that way. Then, if you want later you can write them down, without losing sleep. Yea bro, in fact I've been doing this these past two days while I drive to school since it's a decent amount of time to record. Just experimenting with different people's ideas and my own. Thanks!

[AstralMango]

I've never tried the "who, what, where" thing. I usually write down a few tags and it works fine. Same with seeing a random object and remembering a whole dream because it was in it, haha. Strange how memory works, aye?

[Omarsito]

Try writing down key words of your dream. When you wake up in the morning and see those words, the dream should come back to you then you can write down the rest. Hmm, I considered this at one point but my only concern would be losing some important details in between but I don't think this would be a problem if I continue to just write consistently. Thanks bro

[Sensei]

I used to use a recorder as well, but when you start getting looooong dreams and have 4 of them a night it takes 1 hour plus typing or 2 hours plus talking, then I just stuck to the who what where, and if it is a good dream I want to remember in a month instead of just a week, I write a small paragraph about it. LDs I normally write at least a paragraph. More if they are goooood LDs. I am glad that you are saving your time astral mango, a lot of people lose their original joy in LDing because of DJing.

[AstralMango]

Yeah, well, I don't want to spend more time than I need for WBTB. If I stay up too long I never get to sleep for an hour or two. Usually I love writing details and my dreams can come to a page in my DJ. But in the middle of the night? Not coherent enough for that!

[insideout]

I guess I do something similar to what others have mentioned. When I wake up from a dream, I jot down the basics of the dream events, not even using complete sentences, on some scrap paper I keep next to the bed. Often I use a soft night light I have, instead of bright lamp. Then I'm usually still tired enough to go right back to sleep. Later in the day I use the bedside notes to help me remember the dream and record it in more detail in my dream journal.