Polik
Read my dream
How to remember your dreams
Everyone dreams — even people who are sure they never do. Most dreams are simply forgotten in the first minutes after waking. The good news is that remembering dreams is a skill you can learn.
Why dreams are forgotten
During sleep, memory for events works differently than in the daytime, so a dream is not 'recorded' for long. We remember dreams best when we wake up during them or right after. Reach for your phone or start your day, and the story dissolves.
7 simple techniques
- Before sleep, tell yourself you want to remember your dream: intention really does improve the odds.
- When you wake, do not get up straight away or change position. Lie still with your eyes closed and go over the images.
- Start with the feeling: what did you feel? It is easier to pull the plot out from an emotion.
- Write it down immediately — at least key words. Dictating by voice is handy.
- Write everything, even fragments: over time fragments grow into whole stories.
- Get enough sleep: towards morning REM periods are longer and dreams in them are more vivid.
- Keep a dream journal — within a week you will remember more.
What to write down
The place, the people, the main events, colours, sounds — and always your feelings. Separately, note what is going on in your life right now: that makes it easier to see how the dream connects with reality.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I never dream?
All healthy people dream — you just do not remember. Try the techniques above, and within a week or two dreams will start coming back.
Is it bad not to remember dreams?
No. It is normal and says nothing about your health.
How many dreams do we have a night?
Usually several: REM periods recur roughly every ninety minutes, and each can contain dreams.