Thread: Motivation to keep a Dream Journal?

It helps to have some sort of emotional investment; perhaps someone you are desperate to see again or an inaccessible place you long to visit. Lucid dreaming takes a good bit of work and dedication and from the few times I've tried over the years (before now, that is) I'd last about a week before I just forgot about it and moved on to other things. If you have something that keeps the subject on your mind you'll have better luck.

It's a bit difficult since most people won't see immediate gratification from their efforts. You can go on a diet and within a week experience weight loss, but you can work on LD'ing for a month and get nothing more than a few really cool dreams.

I initially struggled with keeping a dream journal, possibly because I wasn't achieving results. Some people are naturally more prone to lucid dreaming, while others, such as myself (and you, apparently) have to be rather dedicated. Once you start to see the benefits of keeping a dream journal, such as improved dream recall, you'll be more motivated to write down your (now) more detailed dreams. Really, just stick with it and eventually your brain will catch up to your hopes.

Originally Posted by Mercen_505

It helps to have some sort of emotional investment; perhaps someone you are desperate to see again or an inaccessible place you long to visit. Lucid dreaming takes a good bit of work and dedication and from the few times I've tried over the years (before now, that is) I'd last about a week before I just forgot about it and moved on to other things. If you have something that keeps the subject on your mind you'll have better luck.

It's a bit difficult since most people won't see immediate gratification from their efforts. You can go on a diet and within a week experience weight loss, but you can work on LD'ing for a month and get nothing more than a few really cool dreams.

i dont think u understood what i wrote, i was talking about dream journals... not lucid dreams in general

Originally Posted by r0bst3r

I initially struggled with keeping a dream journal, possibly because I wasn't achieving results. Some people are naturally more prone to lucid dreaming, while others, such as myself (and you, apparently) have to be rather dedicated. Once you start to see the benefits of keeping a dream journal, such as improved dream recall, you'll be more motivated to write down your (now) more detailed dreams. Really, just stick with it and eventually your brain will catch up to your hopes.

seems like a good idea =P

i have kept a dream journal on and off, but i think you should really try to write them down religiously.it helps with finding out dream signs, it helps with lucid dreaming, and overall it is just fun to look back and read a dream that you had 7 years ago.
i have also heard of drawing scenes or symbolic things in your dreams instead of writing.

I don't keep one on a regular schedual either. What I do do when I am feeling lazy but still want to write them down, for isntance I usually only write dreams down if I had a lot of them in one night or if they are ones I want to remember.

Usually I've got a lot of feelings behind dream plots, and I write me dreams down so I can connect with those feelings when I need to (WILD etc..)

Originally Posted by eppy

i have kept a dream journal on and off, but i think you should really try to write them down religiously.it helps with finding out dream signs, it helps with lucid dreaming, and overall it is just fun to look back and read a dream that you had 7 years ago.
i have also heard of drawing scenes or symbolic things in your dreams instead of writing.

Drawing the scenes would seem like a good way to inspire me as i want to become a Graphic designer, (just purchased Adobe Photochop CS4 and Adobe Illustrator CS4) and i am going to buy a writing tablet to creating dream scenes would be alot easier =D

Generic reasons to keep a DJ:

• increase dream recall
• identify dream signs (which change over time)
• keep track of LDs
• for dream incubation

I do it for all of the above reasons. Plus I find my DJ to be hilarious and thought provoking. I learn about myself and where I was, mentally, when I had those dreams. I also like to keep track, so if I think I have an experience that I dreamed about in the past I can actually go back and verify it! Plus I think of my dreams as another life. And I want to remember it and keep track of it as much as possible.

I've been trying (and recorded one amusing one this morning) but there's been a couple of times when the dreams were just so damn boring I couldn't be bothered to write them down.

thanks everyone for your help =) im starting my new DJ 2moro =P

I guess the pertinent question for you is why do you want to keep a dream journal? Seems to me you're doing it because you feel you have to, rather than want to?

well i know from past experience that it has helped with dream recall, the only reason i made this post was because i was having trouble maintaing the dream journal that helped me.

And i know your thinking 'but if you know it helped you, then surely that is motivation enought?' and the answer is no lol.

No not at all, I'm thinking why not find something else which can help with dream recall?

The dream journal has been tedious to me in the past. In fact, many times I've seen it more as a chore than anything else. But it is the best way to increase dream recall and encourage a slew of other aforementioned lucid abilities....so it's worth it.

i was thinking that when i get my graphics tablet i could do some graphics on illustrator the coincide with some text about the dream.

I think this may the other form of dream journaling i am looking for =P

has anyone done the same and if so what are the pros / cons?

Take the easy route. If it feels like a chore you probably won't be deligent... so get a tape recorder, preferably with an easy to push record button.

Also, do not give up thinking about your recalled dreams during the day.... if you keep dwelling on the parts you remember, sometimes you will get a chain reaction and remember more later in the day. Kind of funny when you finally remember the dreams from the night before while you are getting ready to fall asleep the next night.

Well i have been keeping a dream journal since friday and i have actualy found it enjoyable as i also write notes in the back of the same book i have bought. It also keeps the boredom in school at bay =D

I only kept a journal for 2 days. Then I had about 5 lucids within 3 months, 1 lucid 4 months ago, and broke my dry spell 2 days ago.

Originally Posted by Niddiboy

Well i have been keeping a dream journal since friday and i have actualy found it enjoyable as i also write notes in the back of the same book i have bought. It also keeps the boredom in school at bay =D

It gets borring fast. Just you wait.

Originally Posted by Reality_is_a_Dream

It gets borring fast. Just you wait.

waow, thankyou so much for your optimism,

seriously, keep ur fkn negative comments to yourself next time.

Originally Posted by Reality_is_a_Dream

It gets borring fast. Just you wait.

Nice


Keep it up Niddi. Dream journalling will never get more boring than school.

Originally Posted by iank

I've been trying (and recorded one amusing one this morning) but there's been a couple of times when the dreams were just so damn boring I couldn't be bothered to write them down.

I definitely can relate. Sometimes I swear it would be more interesting to write about how I did some laundry and took a shower today.

Originally Posted by Reality_is_a_Dream

It gets borring fast. Just you wait.

actually i think dream journals are pretty exciting; i've kept one going for about two months now and i'm still not bored at all. its really fun going back and looking at your dreams plus just knowing that its helping you get closer to becoming lucid is exciting in itself

I had one last night, which I didn't write down as I woke up in the middle of the night from it, which I have now completely forgotten. That said, I think it was very, very boring anyway. Had a really cool one the other night flying on a helicopter (holding onto the bars outside!)

What a shame I didn't lucid that one.