How To Start A Dream Journal: Top Tips

Keeping a dream journal has many benefits such as connecting with your subconscious mind, reflecting on your emotions and inspiring your creativity – not to mention remembering your dreams better!
In a nutshell, dreams offer a unique window into your mind, so why not record them in a notebook?
Learn everything you need to know about how to start a dream journal and how to keep it as a habit.
What Is A Dream Journal?
A dream journal is a dedicated notebook or digital space where you record your dreams, often right after waking up when the details are still fresh in your mind. It allows you to remember your dreams, which can otherwise fade quickly from memory as the day progresses.
Unlike a bullet journal which tracks everything from your habits to long-term goals, a dream journal focuses solely on identifying patterns, themes, or recurring symbols within your dreams. Over time, this process helps you develop a deeper connection with your subconscious mind.

The Benefits of Dream Journaling
Dreams often fade as soon as we wake up. In fact, 50% of us rarely or never remember them. Here are some reasons why starting a dream journal can benefit you:
• Increase Dream Recall: Keeping track of your dreams helps you remember them more clearly over time. You’ll notice that even your vivid, action-packed dreams become easier to track.
• Gain Insights Into Your Subconscious: Dreams often carry messages about your feelings, struggles, or desires that you may not be fully aware of. By reviewing your dream journal, you can uncover patterns or themes.
• Inspire Creativity: Dreams can be a great source of new ideas. Some of the most famous novels and inventions were inspired by dreams, including Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Einstein’s Theory of Relativity and even Google! Keeping a journal will help you capture those creative sparks.
• Problem-Solving: Sometimes, dreams are your brain’s way of working through problems. Writing them down can help you identify solutions that might have been hidden when awake.
• Lucid Dreaming: For those interested in lucid dreaming, which is becoming aware that you’re dreaming while still in the dream, keeping a dream journal is essential. Recording your dreams helps you notice recurring dream signs, making it easier to become lucid during your dreams.

7 Steps To Start A Dream Journal
1. Pick the Right Journal
Choose a notebook or digital app that feels right for you. If you enjoy writing by hand, opt for a journal that’s easy to write in, with enough space for detailed entries. Voice recorders are also very useful too! If you prefer digital tools, there are apps designed specifically for dream journaling. The key is to choose a format that makes you want to write consistently.
2. Keep Your Journal Nearby
Always keep your dream journal within reach of your bed, whether it’s a physical notebook or an app on your phone or tablet. This way, you can jot down your dreams immediately upon waking up. The earlier you record your dreams, the clearer they will be in your memory.
3. Give Your Dream a Title
After you finish writing your dream entry, give it a title that reflects the main theme or feeling. This can help you quickly identify and recall specific dreams when you look back at your journal later.
4. Record As Soon As You Wake
The moment you wake up, write down anything you can remember, even if it’s just fragments, a feeling, or a single image. Dreams fade fast, so the sooner you write them down, the more you’ll recall.
• Date: Always start with the date of the dream.
• Details: Write down the plot, setting, characters, feelings, and any specific details that stand out. Don’t worry if it doesn’t make sense – record what comes to mind.
• Mood and Feelings: Pay attention to how you felt during the dream and after waking up. Were you scared, happy, or confused? Recording your emotions can provide deeper insight into your dreams.
5. Write in Present Tense
Try to write your dream as if it’s happening right now. Instead of “I was walking through a forest,” say, “I am walking through a forest.” Writing in the present tense can help you engage more with your dream, making it easier to remember important details.
6. Use Keywords if You’re Short on Time
If you’re in a rush and can’t write a full entry, jot down a few key phrases or words that stand out. This will help jog your memory when you return to expand on the dream later.
7. Describe Recurring Themes
After writing a few entries, look for recurring symbols, characters, or themes. Is there a particular place you visit often? Do specific objects appear frequently? By tracking these patterns, you can gain a better understanding of what your subconscious mind is trying to communicate.
8. Reflect on Your Entries
After a few weeks of journaling, take some time to read through your past dreams. Reflect on any recurring elements or emotions, and try to interpret how they relate to your life. This reflection process can deepen your self-awareness and help you find meaning in your dreams.

10 Dream Journal Prompts
These 10 prompts may help you describe and interpret your dreams:
1. What was the most vivid detail of your dream?
2. Did anything feel familiar in your dream?
3. What emotions did you feel during the dream?
4. Were there any unresolved conflicts or questions in your dream?
5. If you could continue the dream, what would happen next?
6. Did you interact with any people in your dream? Who were they?
7. Was there a location or setting that stood out to you?
8. Did you experience anything that seemed out of place or unusual?
9. Were there any symbols or objects that appeared more than once?
10. How did the dream end, and how did you feel when you woke up?
Start Keeping A Dream Journal Today!
A dream journal is an invaluable tool for anyone interested in exploring their subconscious, boosting creativity, or even just enjoying the fascinating world of dreams! By regularly writing down your dreams and reflecting on them, you can gain deeper insights into your thoughts and emotions, improve your dream recall, and even lucid dream.
As William Dement said, “Dreaming permits each and every one of us to be quietly and safely insane every night of our lives.” So, why wouldn’t you want to record them?!
So, grab a notebook or set up your digital journal, and start your dream diary. The fascinating adventures in your dreams are definitely worth recording!