How quick do I need to get to my Dream Journal?

I'm trying to improve my Dream Recall through the usage of a Dream Journal; however, I have a quick question. How fast am I supposed to get to my Dream Journal after waking up? I tend to lay in bed for several minutes before actually remembering the journal or feeling like doing anything.

Is this stopping me from making a successful Dream Journal? Thanks. :)

You're doing it right - the idea is to lay in bed and let the dreams rise up in your mind, which can take a while. When you get out of bed you switch from sleepy time mode into wakeful mode, and that closes the curtain on remembering any dreams. Keep the DJ right next to your bed though, you don't want to have to get up and walk around before writing in it. If you need to keep it somewhere else then make sure to completely review the dreams in your mind before getting up, to lock them in. Go through them subvocally as if you're telling them to somebody, put them into actual words. The act of bringing them through from subconscious into conscious brings them more into your daytime awareness.

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Originally Posted by Darkmatters

You're doing it right - the idea is to lay in bed and let the dreams rise up in your mind, which can take a while. When you get out of bed you switch from sleepy time mode into wakeful mode, and that closes the curtain on remembering any dreams. Keep the DJ right next to your bed though, you don't want to have to get up and walk around before writing in it. If you need to keep it somewhere else then make sure to completely review the dreams in your mind before getting up, to lock them in. Go through them subvocally as if you're telling them to somebody, put them into actual words. The act of bringing them through from subconscious into conscious brings them more into your daytime awareness.

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Ah, thanks for clearing that up!

This leads me to one last question: Which act actually improves your recall? The writing it down or thinking about it when you're lying in bed?

Thanks for the reply! :)

Well reviewing it subvocally is just a way to keep from forgetting it so you can then write it down, it's just kind of a placeholder. When you write it you think about it in greater detail and more of it will surface. Plus of course then you've got it written down and will always have it to refer back to for finding dream signs etc. If you only review subvocally you'll remember each dream for a few days before they sink into oblivion.