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Why You Should Keep a Dream Journal and How to Start One Today

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Why You Should Keep a Dream Journal and How to Start One Today

Why You Should Keep a Dream Journal and How to Start One Today

You know that familiar feeling, after waking up from a crazy dream, and the moment you try to recall it, the memory slips away? Although you may not always remember them, you spend about two hours each night dreaming. You can learn a lot from paying attention to your dreams – think of them like a portal into your subconscious world- they offer juicy messages about your life. One way to listen to them is through keeping a dream journal, or dream diary.

Think of your dreams like a little gift to your future self. In this post we’ll explain what dream journals are all about and help you start a dream journal practice today!

What’s a dream journal?

Dream journals are as simple as they sound – a place to record your dreams regularly. They help you to discover patterns and themes in your dreams over time, giving you a sharper lens into your innerworld. They can also help you reconnect with your creative side.

A fantastic tool for overthinkers, analyzers, and dreamers, dream journals can help you better understand areas in your life that may need a little extra attention.

How to Start Dream Journaling?

1.Before going to bed, set an intention to remember your dreams. You can write it down, spend a quiet moment with yourself thinking about your desire to recall your dream, or repeat to yourself out loud “tonight I will remember my dreams.”

2.Choose how you want to record your dream. If you’re the pen and paper type, keep a notebook or pad of paper and a pen beside your bed. Of course, you can easily find digital tools to try – apps like Penzu allow you to record your dreams on your cell phone, while a simple tool like a voice recorder can also help you to keep track each day.

3.As you wake up, before opening your eyes, try to keep very still. Avoid jolting out of bed. Instead, move slowly and gently and try to jot down as much as you remember.
There’s no right or wrong way to do this. You can draw pictures, write notes, pose questions about the scenes or themes in your dream. Some questions you might ponder:

– The location of your dream: was it a familiar or unknown place? What was around you?

-The emotions in your dream: was there a dominant feeling in your dream? Did your feelings change during the dream?

-The characters in your dream: who was in your dream with you? Were these people familiar to you or strangers? What were they doing?

-The activities in the dream: what were you doing?

-The symbols: are there any repeating images, events, or people in your dreams?

You can remember your dreams!

As with starting any new habit – consistency is key. Practice daily and over time, you’ll probably notice that you remember more and more of your dreams. Once you train yourself into the habit, it’ll get easier and easier – enjoy the challenge and have patience with yourself!