Have you ever had a dream so vivid that it felt like you were watching a movie that went on for hours? Maybe you woke up able to recall every detail, as if it actually happened — even years later, scenes from certain dreams might stay clear as day in your mind.
It’s a bizarre phenomenon, and the fact that we only remember some of our dreams is still something that science is trying to fully understand. And that feeling of clarity quickly turning into fleeting flashes as details start to escape us — it’s unfortunate that we forget our dreams, because there are many benefits that come with being able to analyze them.
Dreams are the most honest window into finding out what’s going on under the hood of our minds. They are messages from our subconscious, and writing down every possible detail you can remember when you wake up will open up a wealth of insights about your thoughts and emotions — even if they aren’t totally apparent in your conscious, awake state.
So pour some coffee, grab a cute notebook and join me as I share six other reasons why you should start a dream journal.
#1: Dreams Reveal the Truth
Similar to how people are more honest after they have had a few drinks — every single element from every single dream is a clue that can tell us something. The people we dream about, where the dream takes place, and most importantly, the emotions we feel during the dreams all have something important to reveal.
Sometimes you might be able to make the connections immediately, such as when you dream about eating at a specific restaurant and then realize you saw a random commercial for it a few days prior. But for the instances when the clues aren’t so clear, writing down whatever details you can remember will allow you to piece things together over the next few days. With a dream journal, you are bound to have a few lightbulb “a-ha!” moments.
#2: Tap into Your Creativity
Dreams are your mind’s playground, where anything goes. Think of all of the weird and wild things that happen during your dreams – arguing with a talking dog, having dinner with a celebrity who also turns out to be your dentist, showing up at work with no pants.
As random as they seem, dreams are basically an improv session for your brain, the raw material of which can be repurposed into the building blocks of your next creative project. Whether you plan to funnel this chaotic energy into drawing, writing, or you just want to spice up your day with more creativity in general, your dream journal will be full of ideas of how to think outside the box and embrace a bit of childlike imagination.
#3: The Best Stress Test
Stress might manifest in dream-form as you showing up to the airport and realizing you missed your flight, or an unresolved conflict at work might have that coworker literally chasing you through different settings in another dream. Over time, these recurring themes reveal the truth about what’s weighing on your mind, even if you’ve been ignoring it during the day.
That being said, it's not always super obvious. Sometimes, you have to look at the patterns emerging in your dreams over the course of a few weeks or months. That's where your trusty dream journal will come into handy. Even if upon waking up you don't remember much, just writing down "today I woke up stressed" can help identify underlying problems.
Pssst... another great way to help with ongoing stress is with journal prompts specifically tailored to confront and understand the source. Check out an entire printable PDF workbook of 30 Anxiety Journal Prompts here!
#4: Dreams are Problem Solvers
Have you ever suddenly woken up with a solution to a problem you've been mulling over for weeks? Dreams have a knack for offering fresh, innovative ideas, which might sound like magic — but it’s really just the fact that they come from thoughts that have been ruminating in the background for a while, without us realizing it.
Jotting things down in the middle of the night is a great way to encourage this. If you suddenly awake from a dream full of ideas, don’t wait until morning to write it down. Instead, keep your dream journal and a pen on your nightstand so you never miss one of your subconscious brilliant ideas.
#5: Improve Your Dream Recall
Some mornings, recalling your dreams feels downright impossible. However, getting into the daily habit of jotting anything and everything down that you can will help teach your brain to pay attention to the details that tend to dissipate as we wake up, and over time, you'll likely notice a subtle improvement happening with your recall ability.
Even if it’s a single word, a drawing, or a description of something seemingly irrelevant, write it down — there’s no such thing as too much information when it comes to dream journals.
#6: Discover Your Lucid Dreaming Potential
Lucid dreaming is the xx phenomenon of being aware that you are dreaming, which only a small fraction of the world is able to do. Fortunately, the ability can be learned, and if you are one of the lucky people to be able to grasp this capability, it will open the door to some incredible experiences.
For many people, it’s easier to achieve this while napping during the day. And hey, there’s no better excuse to go relax on the couch for a few hours — just make sure to keep your dream journal close by, because if you achieve lucidity, you will definitely want to keep track of the details so you can try to do it again tomorrow.
“All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity. But the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible.”
— Lawrence of Arabia
Keeping a dream journaling is a great way to tackle problems, pinpoint your priorities, and identify any deep-seeded stressors or concerns that might be running in the background. Even for the dreams that you don’t remember much of, it’s still a great morning ritual that will have you starting your day on the right foot.
For those getting aboard the morning journaling bandwagon (come on in, the water is nice!) — make sure to check out Tidy Plan's collection of Journal Prompts and get your 2026 Vision Board Template here!
