How many of you use dream journals?

[bobberski]

Do they really help? I might use one but I feel hesitant because it would be embarrassing if one of my family members got a hold of it. How exactly does it improve your dream recall or whatever it's called lol. And, do you have to wake yourself up at night or just right down what you can remember in the morning? Feel free to share whatever you want about your dream journal here.

[fennecgirl]

It really does help. My dream recall has improved a LOT since I started keeping a dream journal. I'd definitely recommend starting one. If you're afraid of one of your family members finding it, there are several solutions to that problem. You could get a diary with a lock, keep your dream journal on your computer or phone, or even use the dream journal system here on DV (if you don't mind other DV members seeing it, of course).

[dutchraptor]

If its too sexual or gory or just plain idiotic it you can skip a day but it is vital to nearly all techniques that you have good dream recall best trained with a diary. If you are really open to the idea of dreaming you should not be ashamed of what you dream. You only have to wake up at night to note dreams if it is included in the technique you follow.

[Raen]

I really should start mine but I don't have a diary to write in and the time it takes to start my computer up is quite lengthy. I suppose I could go out and buy a book but I'm an expert at procrastination (not the right attitude at all, I know xD). I suppose the proof is in the pudding, look at my ld count.

[vinny]

Yea, it helps. I wasn't able to remember any of my dreams, until I started writing down fragments of them. Maybe you should try that. Whatever you don't want your family seeing , leave out. Chances are they would not find/ look through it anyway. I used to be paranoid too

[LieutenantCloud]

It's a pretty much an essential tool for most techniques. About the family thing, if you have a phone you can use it to record yourself describing the dream. There's plenty of audio memo apps out there for smartphones. And even if you don't have a smartphone, a simple recorder would do the job fine. Otherwise, you can use an online journal website to write things in private, stored online.

[jblb2424]

If you want to lucid dream effectively you must have one. A year back i lucid dreams without a dream journal and i remembered about a snippet of a dream per night. Now that i got a dream journal i remember 3-5 vivid dreams a night. I also had the same problem about my family finding my journal. What i do to avoid this is that i use my iPhone note app to write down my dreams in. If you have an android, iPhone, or any smartphone, download a note app or a dream journal app and that is pretty much a discrete journal for your dreams . Good luck!

[SpykeTheGamer]

Oh, yes they help a LOT. Without mine i wouldn't have remembered half of the stuff that happened in this dream: We're Cops! - Dream Journals - Lucid Dreaming - Dream Views (hahahah literally one of the weirdest dreams i've ever had, and i'm glad that i remembered so much of it cuz of my dj)

[Iapetos]

I used to not have a dream journal because I told myself it was too much work and I was lazy. But now some weeks ago I decided to write down my dreams every day, and even in the Dream Journal on this site, and since then my awareness in my dreams have increased super fast, although not when I go to bed too late. I still don't use daily reality checks though, because it's too much work and I am lazy. oh wait...

[bobberski]

Lol well thanks for the answers everyone. I'm gonna go get a journal when I go school supply shopping (prob not to long from now). Man, high school. Wish me luck!

[HatsuneMiku01]

if i were you i would definately start a dream journal. before i started mine i could hardly remember 5 dreams per year. now i can remember 2 3 or 4 per night. i would DEFINATELY say that a dream journla is the most effective way to boost dream recall. i will admit that i was skeptical at first but after the first few nights i realized it was working. i love my dream journal because each dream is like a part of me

[Batch]

Writing down the dreams helps greatly in convincing your mind that this is important to you, and therefore getting it to remember dreams. Exactly where you write them down is not as important. I have about 40 envelopes sitting around my room with dreams written on them in tiny print, waiting for me to get around to typing them in on the computer for a more permanent record. It's messy and annoying. I'd suggest a single physical book or notebook instead, but any paper works.

[dutchraptor]

Writing down the dreams helps greatly in convincing your mind that this is important to you, and therefore getting it to remember dreams. Exactly where you write them down is not as important. I have about 40 envelopes sitting around my room with dreams written on them in tiny print, waiting for me to get around to typing them in on the computer for a more permanent record. It's messy and annoying. I'd suggest a single physical book or notebook instead, but any paper works. HAhaha my first twenty entries were written on the back of envelopes and random scraps of papare too, I was thinking of mentioning it XD XD

[Ekyu]

I don't use a dream journal anymore. My dream recall seems good enough for the moment, but i still write down dreams that i find really interesting. Haters gonna hate! Don't get me wrong, you should use one if you just started out with dream recall though!

[benzilla04]

My dream recall seems good enough for the moment Lucky you! and Nyu/Lucy Fan?

[Ekyu]

Lucky you! and Nyu/Lucy Fan? Well, i had to work for it! And yep, elfen lied was quite a good anime.

[benzilla04]

I made myself an online dream journal which I could password protect and what-not, unfortnatly I accidently deleted the database. So.. I rage quited and now I haven't been bothered to re-use it

[Batch]

Its how I've been writing down my dreams for something like three or four years, now. There was a time I used to have lots of notebooks around, and would write them in notebooks, but these days envelopes are just more at hand. Stupid bill comes in, pay bill, write dreams on envelope it came in! Then type into computer when I find the time and energy. Important thing is to get it down quickly, before it all fades away!

[Chicken]

I love my dreamjournal It improved my recall and it is great fun to read back old dreams. I got a beautiful paper journal (second one) and every morning or when I wake up at night I write down my dream, sometimes it is quite difficult because there is no structure or logic in your dreams but just write what you experienced. I keep my journal private, even for my boyfriend, so I can write down everything I dreamt.

[TheCheetahwings]

Well I keep a dream journal, and sometimes I am hesitant to writing down things too sexual. But in the end of the day, I would hope they would respect my privacy- so I just do it. If you really want to have lucidity work you need to keep one.

[Batch]

Riversong, Tardis, Raxacoricofallapatorius ... no chance we have a Doctor Who fan here, no way! Maybe if I post one of my Doctor Who dreams I can get at least one person to read at least one of my dreams around here!