How to Remember Your Dreams

You spend approximately 33 years of your life asleep, which adds up to a whole lot of dreams. If you have trouble remembering your dreams, you might be wondering if you can improve your recall. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take from the comfort of your bedroom. Find out how to remember your dreams so you can channel those 33 years of snoozing into a source of inspiration, introspection, and self-awareness.

How to Remember Your Dreams

Why Does Dreaming Matter?

First, let's explore the basics of dreaming. Dreaming tends to take place during REM sleep, which is characterized by rapid eye movement (hence the acronym "REM"). During this stage of sleep, you may experience increased bodily movement and faster breathing along with dreams. The reason is increased brain wave activity, which actually gets closer to waking activity during REM sleep. REM sleep typically begins about 90 minutes after you fall asleep – but, if you're struggling with sleep problems, you may not experience as much REM sleep as you need. This could, in turn, translate to fewer dreams or trouble remembering your dreams.

Remember Your Dreams with a Dream Journal

If you'd like to remember more of your dreams, a dream journal can be a great place to start. Many people wake up, then fall back asleep, after dreaming in the REM stage. You can take advantage of this by placing a pen and notebook next to your bed, then quickly scribbling down the details of your dream as soon as you wake up. If you have trouble remembering the details of your dream, try keeping your eyes closed for a moment immediately after waking up. By eliminating distractions, you may be able to improve your recall. After dream journaling becomes a habit, you might find it easier to remember your dreams over time.

Choose a Dreamy Snack

If you're interested in shaking up your dream life a bit, you can reach for certain foods that contain dream-stimulating vitamins. For example, melatonin can affect your REM sleep. Melatonin is present in foods like cherries, almonds, bananas, and oatmeal. Vitamin B6, also found in bananas, can also improve dream recall according to a 2002 study of college students. However, improper doses of supplements can lead to insomnia and other negative health effects, so be sure to talk to your doctor before introducing a supplement to your diet.

Prioritize REM Sleep

If you're having trouble recalling dreams, make sure that you're getting plenty of deep sleep. Some medications like antidepressants can suppress REM sleep, and alcohol can have the same effect. Finally, make sure you're focusing on getting a good night's rest. Allow yourself at least eight hours of sleep per night, and work to create a restful sleep sanctuary for yourself. This could involve purchasing blackout curtains or a sleep mask, getting a white noise machine, and upgrading to a new mattress and pillow set for maximum comfort.

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If you're trying to learn how to remember your dreams, a sleep journal, sleep-promoting foods, and a good night's rest are all great places to start. If you feel fatigued or like you're getting inadequate sleep, make sure to reach out to a doctor or sleep specialist. Otherwise, sweet dreams!

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