Inconsistent Dream Recall

[zebrafriek1]

Two nights ago, I set my alarm for 6 hours after i went to sleep in hopes of remembering a few dreams and not having to write in my dream journal when i woke up for the day. I woke up to the alarm and remembered nothing. I thought "Ok, I'll write some dreams down when i wake up again." I wake up again for the day and i remembered nothing. Last night, I dont set my alarm and when i wake up in the morning I remember 3 dreams, one of which very vividly. This happens a lot where one night I dont remember anything and the next i remember a lot. How can I make my dream recall more consistent? Just as a side note, I think i am getting closer to a LD. I only dream journal and reality check right now, but yesterday was the first time i questioned something in a dream. I was doing a project i had to do for school that i have already done in real life. In the dream, I was doing it with different people. I wondered why i was doing it with different people and when i asked my friend why the dream faded. Still, i am excited about this.

[Zoth]

Go to bed at the same hour every night, and get up at always the same time. This will reinforce your sleep schedule and eventually you'll wake up by your own. By doing that, it's most certain that you'll remember your last dream. Sometimes other factors (like stress, or food) can affect your dream recall, but at least one dream per night should come You can always check the Dream Recall Compendium and find some other tips there. Moving this to Dream Signs and Recall.

[JoannaB]

I find that an alarm usually does not help me with dream recall. I usually recall dreams best when I through sheer will power get myself to wake more after every dream cycle (so every 1.5 to 2 hours), and write in my journal every time I awake during the night, so let's say I go to bed at 10pm, I usually wake at midnight without an alarm and write in journal, then wake around 2 and 4, and finally around 6am. Sometimes I recall a dream and other times I don't but I try to write in journal at every natural awakening. This does not always work, especially not if I am not well rested enough or not feeling well then all bets are off. Even with that, I still get not completely consistent recall, but I can usually remember at least one or two dreams on night's when I was determined to dream journal after every sleep cycle if I am well rested enough. I hope this helps you.