Dream journals are important tools that will help you find trends and ultimately dream signs, and improve your dream recall. When you make entries in your dream journal, you should always include details like the location your dream took place, the people you saw, and what you were doing. You should include other strange anomalies like being able to pass through walls, fly, etc.
 
 
 

A Dream Journal Entry Example

Here’s a scanned page of my dream journal:

In case you can’t understand it, here’s what it means: I’m in the living room with James and Isabella playing poker. We’re talking about fears when cockroaches come in as a group from the kitchen. James grabs a huge boulder and throws it at them. I wake up from the huge crash.

A couple of things to note:

• My handwriting is terrible, but it’s more important to write the dream entry in quickly than for it to look nice
• There’s plenty of detail – enough to fully recreate the scene in my mind and recover more details when I later analyze the entry
• If you can manage to do it effectively, it would be a good idea to write down as few keywords as possible – you don’t have to write in complete sentences
• I live in an apartment that has no cockroach infestation, and I don’t have a huge boulder in my living room, which make these potential dream signs
• I don’t see my friend James too often, and most humans can’t lift a huge boulder, which are more potential dream signs.
• In case you were wondering, that black notch on the right side of the pad is a useful pen-holder. :)

What to Use as a Dream Journal

Your dream journal can be anything you can comfortably write on. Some people choose to use computer programs to log their dreams. While this can be beneficial when you later analyze your journal with search features or organize your dream entries, it’s not as easily accessible as pen and paper is. Using the programs would require you to turn on your computer to record your dreams in the middle of the night, or leave it on all night, which can be impractical.

One way you can effectively use dream journal software is to first record your dreams using pen and paper, then enter it into the program to analyze and organize your entries. Entering your entries into the program should be quick and easy – as people generally type faster than they can write.

Some people also choose to use tape recorders as dream journals. This is beneficial because you can quickly log details of your dream by speaking – which is faster than both typing and writing. However, using a tape recorder should be used more as a supplement to another dream journal, because it will be almost impossible to later organize and analyze your dream entries. Another thing to beware of is anyone else you share a room with. If you sleep with a light sleeper, you could end up with a cranky spouse or roommate…

Important Tips for Maintaining Dream Journals

Your dream journal should also be easily accessible (next to your bed) so that you can quickly jot down notes of your dreams after you wake up. It’s very important to do this immediately after you wake up, because the slightest shift in attention could quickly wipe away your memory of the dream.

One quick tip is to stay still when you wake up and give yourself a chance to remember as much of your dream experiences as possible. If you can only remember bits and pieces of a dream, try closing your eyes and focusing as much as you can on those remnants – hopefully you will recover the full dream. After you have recalled as many of the dreams as possible go ahead and record them into your dream journal, including any dreams you could only remember pieces of.

Many people find that after waking up in the middle of the night, they can remember their dreams in crystal clear detail and decide not to write it down believing they will still remember it in the morning. More often than not, this won’t work because any other dream you have later that night will most likely prevent you from remembering the first set of dreams. Don’t let this common mistake frustrate you – write it down no matter how tired you are!

Another quick tip is to have a light source next to your bed so you can see what you’re writing without having to get out of bed. I remember one instance when I recorded into my dream journal without being able to see it, and woke up in the morning to find nothing there because the pen had run out of ink. You should preferably have a dim light so you don’t disrupt your eyes (which can make it harder to remember details of your dream) or anyone else in the room.

Each night before you sleep, you should look over your dream journal – particularly for unusual recurring events. For example, I found that I frequently dreamt of people that I hadn’t seen or spoken to in years. Something like this could be used to make you realize that you are dreaming. If I find myself interacting with someone I normally don’t see, then it could be a dream sign, a cue that tells me that I might be having a dream.

Take note of any potential dream signs in your dream journal, and focus on them as you sleep. You’ll not only improve your chances of becoming lucid, but you’ll also make the most of your journal.