Quick Help Before Starting Dream Journal?

Sorry to start another thread so soon but I really need some info thanks. Well I'm going to sleep in about a half an hour (need my fix of Seinfeld) and before I start my dream journal I want to know everything about everything I should know. ie. Should I change my sleeping pattern and get up earlier? Should I get up in between every dream and write or wake up in the morning and record what I can remember? What should I tell myself before I go to sleep, and what if I don't dream? How should I write my entries? Should I date them? Thanks, sorry I know I get annoying but I like to be educated.

Hey, I'm new here too, and I just started my dream journal Sunday. In my experience so far, there's really no need to change your sleep pattern. My pattern varies from night to night, but I'm still having dreams that I remember a lot easier thanks to my journal. I used to go months without dreaming, but this week I had one Sunday, SIX Monday, and one last night that was a lot more detailed than the other ones. I wake up after every dream and write down as much as I can remember about them in my journal next to my bed. I basically take notes in outline form, and I date 'em, just in case. And as I'm falling off to sleep, I try to give myself a little motivation by repeating "I WILL remember my dreams. . ." until I sort of dose off. I know I'm not very experienced with it, but I've had more dreams this week than I have in the last month or more, so I'm really excited about this. I just wanted to offer my little tidbit, but I'm sure the dreamers here can help out a lot more. Good luck with your journal tonight! :D

SHould I Change my sleeping patterns?
You don't need to change them specifically. Just make sure you try to keep them constant between nights. aim for 7-8 hours sleep too

Should I get up between every dream...
If you wake up IN the night....and you happen to think of writing them down. Go for it. However, if you don't wake up there's nothing wrong with the morning

what should I tell myself before going to sleep...
well, what techniqe are you using to induce lucid dreams? (if you are just trying to build recall, dont stress about telling yourself much before sleep at this stage. Journalling is good enough)

How should I write my entries?
however you like. Dont make it a chore. But the general rule is.....the more detail the better.

Should I Date them?
...I do...you dont NEED to..its just if you want to read back over them (like I do)

What If I Dont dream
You dream EVERY night. Even if you remember 5 seconds of dream....just an image....just a feeling...write it down. It builds up over time.

Oh thanks so much :). Yeah at the moment I'm just trying to get my recall to the point where I can remeber 2+ dreams a night. Then I'll advance. So I guess I'll stick to just the morning because I have school and need sleep. Thanks again you guys, this helps :D.

yeah, get some good recall happening for a few nights whilst researching which method you want to start with.

I suggest you check the 'tutorials' section when its that time; also the 'attaining lucidity' and 'newbie zone'

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Originally Posted by james_jlc

yeah, get some good recall happening for a few nights whilst researching which method you want to start with.

I suggest you check the 'tutorials' section when its that time; also the 'attaining lucidity' and 'newbie zone'

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Kay thanks, I'll check out methods right now *rushes off to wherever they are*.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TheWall

Oh thanks so much :). Yeah at the moment I'm just trying to get my recall to the point where I can remeber 2+ dreams a night. Then I'll advance. So I guess I'll stick to just the morning because I have school and need sleep. Thanks again you guys, this helps :D.

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It's amazing how quickly your recall can improve. For years I claimed to only dream once a month or so, I simply never remembered them. When I decided to start a dream journal, the first night I went to bed telling myself I would remember my dreams....the next morning I had 3. Four months later I can almost always count on at least 2.

I write mine down in the morning after breakfast. I know that's somewhat contrary to the rules - most say to get them down before you even get out of bed; but I've found that when I wake up, I usually will have some brief plots, which I'll focus in my head. I'll remember these (something like, "fishing dream," "back in school with JM" and "airplane delayed") as I get in the shower and while taking a shower I'll typically get more and more of the specifics from each dream. It's difficult, because if I let my mind wander at all, I can lose them...but if I keep focusing, by the time I sit down to eat my breakfast and drink my tea I've got them pretty well in order to write down.

I date mine, just for review purposes, to keep them in context.

Write down everything you can remember, even only snippets...but also try to avoid gap-filling. Dreams are full of gaps, incongruities, huge time/plot shifts -- a lot of people will fill these in so as to make the plot make sense. There's no reason to, let the dreams be as focused or unfocused as you remember it.

Good luck!

/\ Yeah I take a bit before I write as well because the memory's come back about 5 minutes after I wake. I told myself I'd remember my dreams tonight and I remebered a snippet of two and fully remembered one! It's been a while since I've been able to do that :). Thanks all for your help and my DR can only go up :D.