I started working on my dream recall so that I can work toward lucid dreams about 5 or 6 nights ago. So far I've remembered only a very, very short fragment of one dream out of all 6 nights. I repeatedly tell myself as I'm going to sleep that I will remember my dreams, and I'm very motivated. I have my journal by my bed to write in when I remember a dream, but I never remember one.

My question is this: Does anything keep you from being able to recall dreams? Tobacco, Nicotine, Marijuana? Anything I could possibly be doing on a daily basis to inhibit me from recalling dreams?

Also, should I be repeating that I will remember my dreams in my head as I go to sleep? Just the exact same statement? It's hard for me to keep repeating it as I go to bed, it is so repetitive that I end up just stopping because it keeps me from going to sleep.