6 Ways to Remember Your Dreams And Tap Into Your Unconscious Mind

We dream 4-7 times during a night, which amounts to about 2 hours total nightly which is a significant part of our lives. According to speed reading expert and mind mentalist Jim Kwik, while we sleep our subconscious mind continues to work on problems our conscious mind cannot figure out. When people say “sleep on it”, it really does help, and in fact, a lot of great literary and artistic works and scientific theories came to their inventors and creators in their respective dreams.

For example, did you know:

• Paul McCartney came up with the song “Yesterday” in a dream.
• Mary Shelley created “Frankenstein” in a dream.
• Albert Einstein developed the theory of relativity in a dream.
• Dmitri Mendeleev saw the periodic table in a dream.
• Renée Descartes realized the framework for the scientific method in a dream.
• Jack Nicklaus changed his golf swing in a dream.
• Elias Howes invented the sewing machine partly because of a dream
• James Cameron came up with The Terminator in a dream

But that’s not an easy thing for most people to do: remember their dreams.

I have very vivid and active dreams but I never recall them but I really want to. I recently discovered Kwik when he was a guest on one of the many podcasts I listen to and am excited to learn that he did a quick a podcast with tips on remembering our dreams.

He recommends them in an acronym. D.R.E.A.M:.

D stands for Decide.

Make the conscious choice to recall your dreams before you go to sleep.

R stands for Record.

Keep a pen/paper or a dedicated dream journal by your bedside, and get a penlight if you can’t see.You can also take audio notes on your phone.

E stands for Eyes.

Keep your eyes shut within the first few minutes of waking up, which is when most of our dreams disappear. Keeping your eyes closed will help you to reflect on your dreams and not get distracted by your environment.

A stands for Affirm.

Have you ever had to wake up at a certain time and told yourself you would, and then woken up a few minutes before your alarm? Affirm that you will remember your dreams. Set the intention before you sleep.

Repeat this out loud to yourself: I will recall my dreams. I will remember my dreams.

M stands for Manage.

Manage your sleep because you need deep rest to have your dreams. Keep a regular sleep routine, clear your mind before bedtime, and practice good sleep hygiene.

S stands for Share.

Share your dreams and talk about them with others.The more you acknowledge your dreams and bring them to the surface, the easier it is to remember them.

The ability to recall dreams is a skill learned through practice and persistence, Kwik says.He has a 12+-week Masterclass, which is an advanced online memory training course that I think I might take.

Well, if these aforementioned tips don’t work for me and I need a deeper dive!