Increasing Dream Recall

Hello all. I'm currently working on dream recall as I am getting back into the swing of LDing, but have been slow progress. Most nights I'm only remembering segments of a minute or less. I was wondering if anyone had any good insight as to set up a practice to increase recall reliably. Currently I am doing several things for recall including: DJ, mantras/intention before bed, writing intention before bed, 8 hrs sleep, good nutrition. I'm wondering if it's just a matter of patience, or if something else may be slowing it down. I appreciate all input/advice!

Hello :)
I had this problem in the beginning, it was awful i was waking with no sign of dreams , nothing at all only black background then i started sleeping properly and respecting the nature light ( you can say that i fixed my body's biological clock ) then i started getting few colors when i wake up so that i can be sure that i had some dreams , then it was like 5 diffirent faint pictures with some pieces of each dream then i started realising the number of dreams i had then after some time i started recalling every piece of the 5 dreams i get per night or more or less but all of them till the last detail and i noticed that my recal become not good att all when i don't sleep well and late ....etc
I wish you a good luck just keep on !! and believe in yourself .

Good advise, sakki!

It sounds like you guys doing everything what you can. Keep in mind, that even if we are doing everything right, sometimes recall fluctuates.

Also, when you wake up, try to stay in the same position. For some reason it's easier to recall dreams in same position as you were when they happened.

Moved to Dream signs and Recall

Hello Oneirin! All those things you mentioned will definitely help improve recall, especially DJ. A few other things I can recommend are B6 supplements if you need more vivid dreams, not moving round when you wake up and having confidence and the expectation that you will recall dreams when you wake up. It takes a bit of time but they will come!
EDIT: Sniped me Gab!!! :P

Ty for encouragement. Luckily I decided to arrange curtains last night to block out all street lights spilling into the room. I'm also going more with the bio clock as Sakki said - and just decided to get an extra hour of sleep time in. I managed to remember a whole lot of dream segments - quite a few mins of total dreams, and even managed to have an LD. Maybe I just need a bit over 8 hours atm. I'm definitely going to try to remain in the same position and make sure my B6 is in. I'll continue and post how the recall goes!

I think there is nothing better for building dream recall than remaining really excited about recalling your dreams, for having it be really important to you. The only thing on your mind all night long and into the morning should be "what was I just dreaming about?" when you find yourself awake. Reserve sleeping time for dreams, waking day concerns can wait until after you're up for the day.

In more detail: FryingMan's dream recall tips

I also believe that training oneself to pay attention to all life experiences, reflecting upon them, and recalling them later, builds amazingly high dream recall (and builds lucidity):
FryingMan's Unified Theory of Lucid Dreaming: Pay Attention, Reflect, Recall -- Both Day and Night

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FryingMan

Reserve sleeping time for dreams, waking day concerns can wait until after you're up for the day.

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I really like this approach right now: having a solid sleep ritual both before bed & in the morning. Before bed = mantras etc. and consistent journaling in the morning following + laying still and continuously rewinding dreams. I'm adding additional sleep time and I'm finding sleeping a bit more than 8 hours has been extremely helpful. I guess I got used to sleeping the typical average of 8 hours, but I'm going to keep using the additional sleep. I'm now remembering many many dream segments throughout the night and having a few awakening triggered by mantras. Let's see how much more progress I'll make!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Oneirin

I really like this approach right now: having a solid sleep ritual both before bed & in the morning. Before bed = mantras etc. and consistent journaling in the morning following + laying still and continuously rewinding dreams. I'm adding additional sleep time and I'm finding sleeping a bit more than 8 hours has been extremely helpful. I guess I got used to sleeping the typical average of 8 hours, but I'm going to keep using the additional sleep. I'm now remembering many many dream segments throughout the night and having a few awakening triggered by mantras. Let's see how much more progress I'll make!

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This is a really good approach, to have a solid ritual and stick to it, with your mind firmly on your dreams while in bed. Your mind adapts to this and dreams and fragment memories will flow in more and more easily over time, and in more detail.