Starting to develop my dream recall...

[Pelirrojo]

Hey everybody, I got really interested in LDing like 4 days ago and started a dream journal (man... the days seem to go a lot slower when you're keeping track of them hehe). In retrospect, I guess I'm making pretty good progress because I started off never remembering any of my dreams. The first couple days I saw my dream recall exponentially just by me willing myself to recall dreams, trying to keep a journal, etc. However, 2 days ago I moved back to school and my dreams basically stopped again... This is strange to me, especially since I have been making an effort to get to bed earlier. I got at least 9 hours of sleep the last two nights and both times I woke up not even remembering fragments of dreams (later in the day seeing certain people/things would trigger the recall of tiny bits and pieces, but I can never a lot). This is rather frusterating to me, as I felt I was making very good progress with my recall. However, I'm definately going to keep with the dream journal because it does seem to be helping. Hopefully I'll soon overcome this small setback and start dreaming again... I feel like the problem could be linked to the fact that I'm sleeping in a new place (or old place, depending on how my brain looks at it...), or maybe that I'm getting more/less sleep than is optimal for dreaming. Could anybody give some feedback on whether this happened to them? What can I do to hasten the development of my recall skills? Thanks, Pete.

[Neruo]

Good that you have started a DJ! I used to have no recall aswell, and me to now have some quite better DR! Getting up early really does kill my DR... In the weekends I often have better/more dreams. Maybe due to stress/more sleep and stuff. Just keep improving your DR. A lucid is no good when you can't remember! Good luck!

[Worlds Within]

"I feel like the problem could be linked to the fact that I'm sleeping in a new place" It has been my experience that a dramatic change in my routine interrupts my sleep in general. The change back to a school location, as well as other things you have on your mind that you have to attend to relating to school, may be taking precedence over dream recall for the time being. Carry your dream journal with you to bed and place it on a stand or in the floor beside the bed. Make mental affirmations that you will remember your dreams when you awaken. (If you aren't already doing them.) These actions may spur more recall. I keep my dream journal beside my bed. When I wake in the night, I turn on a flashlight and begin writing any dreams I remember. My recall has increased in the last six weeks that I have been journaling and now I remember at least one and usually three per night. It takes some effort, but it pays off.