9 Easy Ways To Have (And Recall) More Dreams

Multiple people have told me that they never dream. As someone who dreams a lot, I find this sad, especially because it is a situation that can be rectified with a little effort. The benefits are amazing, too! Prolific dreamers find it easier to regulate their moods, consolidate their memories, and process emotions. They experience lower stress levels, less depression, and are more resilient. Furthermore, they have higher brain health and feelings of wellbeing, as well as enhanced creativity and problem-solving skills. Though the advantages of these things are obvious for writers like myself, everyone else can also benefit in ways specific to them.
 
But if you have problems entering dreamland, what can you do?
 
My top 9 tips for having (and recalling) more of your dreams
 
Tip #1 – Stop telling yourself that you don’t dream.
This is setting up a self-fulfilling prophecy care of your subconscious. The facts are that everybody dreams at least 3 times a night. Therefore, the problem is not that you don’t dream, it’s that you don’t remember your dreams. The following tips will deal with that.
 
Tip #2 – Set up a new subconscious message.
Instead of telling yourself that you don’t dream, flip the message. You can try a mantra in which you state that you remember your dreams “easily and often”. Repeat the mantra a few times before you go to sleep each night.
 
Tip #3 – Think about dreams.
Throughout the day, think about dreams. It could be the types you would like to have, ones you have heard others talk about, a dream scene you have seen in a favourite movie, how you will feel once you remember more of them, the benefits dreams can have on your life, or the increase in your imaginative and creative abilities. Pick something that motivates you and focus on that.
  
Tip #4 – Avoid caffeine.
Stop your caffeine intake in the afternoon. Caffeine is a known brain stimulant that interferes with the brain being able to relax and stay asleep.
 
Tip #5 – Go to the dark side.
The amount of light you have entering your room could be impacting on your dream life. Light tells the brain that it is morning. Hence, if you want to sleep well (and dream well as a result) then a dark room is necessary. Block-out blinds or an eye mask are brilliant ways to ensure you have the darkness you need.
 
Tip # 6 – Bedtime routine is important.
Do you have a bedtime routine? If not, and your goal is to remember more of your dreams, now is the time to have one. Going to bed at the same time each night helps set your internal clock – and dream – rhythms. This habit can make it easier for your mind to recall dreams as it has a pattern to latch onto.
 
Tip #7 – Waking routine is important, part a.
Much like tip #6, the waking up routine you employ is important, and for the same reasons. Start by waking up at the same time (or as close to the same time) as is possible for you. Then move to tip #8.
 
Tip #8 – Waking up routine is important, part b.
Whatever you normally do upon waking, whether it’s leaping straight from bed, mulling over the fifty things you have to do that day, or pressing snooze on your alarm and rolling over to go back to sleep, stop. Instead, give yourself at least one minute to quieten your mind so you can ask yourself if you remember a dream.
 
Tip #9 – Read books about dreaming.
 Dreams come from our subconscious. As such, what you feed your subconscious will work its way over into your dreamlife. If you read books and watch movies or documentaries related to dreaming, you are training your brain to not only expect dreams, but to remember them – and that this is a normal, natural process (which, of course, it is!).
 
I think that the urban myths surrounding dreams can make those who feel like they don’t dream give up. But as you can see from my tips above, it doesn’t have to be hard or complicated. You can become a big dreamer with time, patience, and practice.
 
Check back next week for my blog on dream journals.
 
Yours in dreaming, writing, and dream writing,
 
Alicia Leigh :-)

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