# Remembering dreams **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 29, 2001, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembering-dreams/59962 "2001-03-29T13:14:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ressl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Ressl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ressl)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2001, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembering-dreams/59962/1 "2001-03-29T13:14:04Z")
Are there any tips or resources that would help me remember my dreams more? ---
**Author:** ![mongrel\_8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@mongrel\_8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mongrel_8)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2001, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembering-dreams/59962/2 "2001-03-29T15:46:36Z")
I have always read that if right before you fall asleep you tell yourself that you are going to remember your dreams then you are more likely to. Also, as soon as you wake up the first thing you should do is attempt to remember what you dreamt about and possibly record it to help you remember. Once you get in this habit you well start remembering your dreams more frequently. Sweet dreams! ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2001, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembering-dreams/59962/3 "2001-03-30T02:12:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mongrel\_8 \* > **Also, as soon as you wake up the first thing you should do is attempt to remember what you dreamt about and possibly record it to help you remember.** I’ve been taught the same thing. If you want to record your recollections of your dreams, keep a tape recorder or pen and notepad near your bed. Keeping it close by and ready to use is important; in the time it takes you to find a pen and paper, you might lose some of your dream memories. > [@](#): > > **Once you get in this habit you well start remembering your dreams more frequently.** Absolutely. Practice is key. You won’t remember your dreams with perfect clarity at first, but with time and practice, you’ll find it easier to remember. I know I’m basically repeating what **mongrel\_8** ’s saying, but it’s worth repeating. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DaveRaver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daveraver/32/1078_2.png) [@DaveRaver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveRaver)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2001, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembering-dreams/59962/4 "2001-03-30T02:48:15Z")
I wonder if it is at all possible to remember dreams you had weeks or months ago (which you didn’t remember immediately upon waking). Obviously this is impossible through normal means, but maybe through hypnotism? ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2001, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembering-dreams/59962/5 "2001-03-30T03:24:24Z")
I’m most likely to remember my dreams when I get more than my usual amount if sleep. On a weekend when, instead of getting up @ 6:00 AM, I may snooze until 9:00, and I’ll dream a lot and remember those dreams for awhile. ---
**Author:** ![JCThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dc4da7/32.png) [@JCThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JCThunder)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2001, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembering-dreams/59962/6 "2001-03-30T03:37:48Z")
I have really enjoys my dream-time over the past years. I experience something called ‘Lucid Dreaming’ ([http://www.lucidity.com/LucidDreaming.html](http://www.lucidity.com/LucidDreaming.html)). This is dreaming while knowing that you are dreaming. It has allowed me to fly, cause trouble, have a whole lotta fun, and drive recklessly without going to jail or embarrasing myself. My tip to remember your dreams (whether they’re exciting or not)is 2-fold… 1. Every once in a while during the day, ask yourself, “Am I dreaming?” Your mind will answer, “Of course not.” The theory being that while you ARE asleep and dreaming that you just robbed a bank, flew through the air, crashed a train, etc., you may just think “Am I dreaming.” (The natural reaction in a dream is to realize “Heck yeah, I’m dreaming!”) 2. Take a couple vitamin C right before bed. I don’t know if this works (I read it somewhere), but I don’t think it can do you any harm. (Please Note: JCThunder is not responsible for Dopers turning into oranges). Sorry it’s so long, but give it a try, you might be surprised - JC ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2001, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembering-dreams/59962/7 "2001-03-30T03:50:58Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by DaveRaver_ > \*\*I wonder if it is at all possible to remember dreams you had weeks or months ago (which you didn’t remember immediately upon waking). Obviously this is impossible through normal means, but maybe through hypnotism? \*\* Hypnotism, as practiced by non-entertainment professionals, is a relaxation technique/visualization exercise. AFAIK, there is no good evidence that it aids your ability to remember things, much less things that happened in the distant past. ---
**Author:** ![Homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2001, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembering-dreams/59962/8 "2001-03-30T04:08:56Z")
DaveRaver: Yes, it’s possible, I’ll remember dreams randomly, weeks or months after I have them. I have a better than average long term memory, and NO short term memory, however. –Tim ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2001, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembering-dreams/59962/9 "2001-03-30T08:43:05Z")
Another point: You never remember your dreams (not even to the point of remebering you were dreaming at all) unless you wake up while you’re actually dreaming. You might try playing around with your alarm clock.