No. When I wake up I have no memory or sensation of dreaming. Just sort of a jump in time. If I were to wake up and realize I had been dreaming. I’d be pretty excited and put it in my journal.
I don’t have much information about your case, but I’d make a 1-to-1 bet that if you got up and wrote down your dreams first thing in the morning every morning, especially if you’re woken up by an alarm for the first 3 times, that you’d start remembering your dreams. Just jot dow whatever you remember, however vague or instinct, upto and including “litterally nothing. The the last thing I remember is going to bed last night.”
I rarely remember my own dreams, but in periods of my life when I’ve kept a dream journal, I easily remembered them.
I suspect this is a big factor. I haven’t used an alarm to wake up for ~2 years and can’t recall the last time I remembered a dream. Without an alarm you’re left in a half-awake state for some number of minutes before actually waking/getting up, which is probably when one forgets.
During the period when I was writing down dreams, I was also not using an alarm. I did train myself to wake up instantly, at the time that I wanted, to the minute. I agree that the half-awake state is anti-helpful for remembering dreams.
That’s common for beginners. If you want to give this a go, you should start by writing down fleeting, vague associations. “Something a bit sad or disappointing. A car. School and also not school. The texture of cinnamon rolls.”
It doesn’t matter that you can’t remember anything concrete at first. Eventually, you’ll remember more and more.
This assumes that I have any sort of vague impression. I really don’t. I’ve tried many times to focus on any recollection from when I’m asleep, and it’s just blank. I don’t keep a journal because a whole bunch of pages saying “nothing” isn’t useful.
When I am falling asleep, I may have a dreamlike state of imagination. Never upon waking though.
Even just writing down loose associations and your emotional state is enough; that’s how you get the ball rolling. Try it for two weeks even if it feels useless. Unless you’re taking antidepressants in which case this might actually be ineffective. I know this doesn’t sound worthwhile, but I know from experience (mine and others) that it usually works.
I remember my dreams only sometimes, but I’ve had good experiences just sitting down and trying to recall them for about a minute. One time, I started out remembering nothing. After a while, I recalled some vague details, and writing those down led to remembering even more specifics, until I remembered three different dreams I had that night. It might be worth trying that out!
In my experience, the results are quite quick and its interesting to remember your dreams. The time it takes is ~10 minutes a day.
I’m not gonna say it doesn’t take any effort. It can be hard to to it if you are tired in the morning, but I disagree with the characterization that it takes “a lot” of effort.
Outside of studying/work, I exercise every day, do anki cards every day, and try to make a reasonably healthy dinner every day. Each of those activities individually take ~10x the cognitive effort and willpower that dream journaling does. (for me)
Can’t you just keep a dream journal? I find if I do that consistently right upon waking up, I’m able to remember dreams quite well.
No. When I wake up I have no memory or sensation of dreaming. Just sort of a jump in time. If I were to wake up and realize I had been dreaming. I’d be pretty excited and put it in my journal.
I don’t have much information about your case, but I’d make a 1-to-1 bet that if you got up and wrote down your dreams first thing in the morning every morning, especially if you’re woken up by an alarm for the first 3 times, that you’d start remembering your dreams. Just jot dow whatever you remember, however vague or instinct, upto and including “litterally nothing. The the last thing I remember is going to bed last night.”
I rarely remember my own dreams, but in periods of my life when I’ve kept a dream journal, I easily remembered them.
I suspect this is a big factor. I haven’t used an alarm to wake up for ~2 years and can’t recall the last time I remembered a dream. Without an alarm you’re left in a half-awake state for some number of minutes before actually waking/getting up, which is probably when one forgets.
During the period when I was writing down dreams, I was also not using an alarm. I did train myself to wake up instantly, at the time that I wanted, to the minute. I agree that the half-awake state is anti-helpful for remembering dreams.
The alarm is helpful for starting out though.
That’s common for beginners. If you want to give this a go, you should start by writing down fleeting, vague associations. “Something a bit sad or disappointing. A car. School and also not school. The texture of cinnamon rolls.”
It doesn’t matter that you can’t remember anything concrete at first. Eventually, you’ll remember more and more.
This assumes that I have any sort of vague impression. I really don’t. I’ve tried many times to focus on any recollection from when I’m asleep, and it’s just blank. I don’t keep a journal because a whole bunch of pages saying “nothing” isn’t useful.
When I am falling asleep, I may have a dreamlike state of imagination. Never upon waking though.
Even just writing down loose associations and your emotional state is enough; that’s how you get the ball rolling. Try it for two weeks even if it feels useless. Unless you’re taking antidepressants in which case this might actually be ineffective. I know this doesn’t sound worthwhile, but I know from experience (mine and others) that it usually works.
Ooooooooh…. Antidepressants……..I take Wellbutrin.
Yeah, that could be it.
Welp, I enjoyed dreaming when I was younger. I’d rather be happy now.
I remember my dreams only sometimes, but I’ve had good experiences just sitting down and trying to recall them for about a minute. One time, I started out remembering nothing. After a while, I recalled some vague details, and writing those down led to remembering even more specifics, until I remembered three different dreams I had that night. It might be worth trying that out!
It is useful, but takes a lot of cognitive efforts
In my experience, the results are quite quick and its interesting to remember your dreams. The time it takes is ~10 minutes a day.
I’m not gonna say it doesn’t take any effort. It can be hard to to it if you are tired in the morning, but I disagree with the characterization that it takes “a lot” of effort.
Outside of studying/work, I exercise every day, do anki cards every day, and try to make a reasonably healthy dinner every day. Each of those activities individually take ~10x the cognitive effort and willpower that dream journaling does. (for me)