Discover how dream incubation can influence what you dream about and how a calm bedtime routine can shape your unconscious mind. Learn tips for enhancing dream recall and creating more enjoyable dreams!
I’ve always been a vivid dreamer and usually remember most of my dreams. I love sharing them with friends because I find them so fascinating. Last week, I had one of the most interesting dream experiences yet.
Lately, I’ve been reading a fantasy book with dragons in it, usually right before bed. In my dream, I was riding a dragon, feeling the wind on my face and every movement it made. It felt like I was on a roller coaster. Unfortunately, when the dragon made a sudden dive, my stomach dropped—and I woke up. Despite that abrupt ending, it’s one of my favorite dreams to date.
While on a walk with a friend, I shared this dream. She majored in psychology and had taken an entire class on dreaming and the unconscious mind. She told me that if you focus on something before falling asleep, there’s a good chance it will appear in your dreams.
That made sense—since I usually read fantasy before bed, it’s no surprise that my dreams often have a fantastical element. She also mentioned that keeping a dream journal and writing down dreams immediately after waking up can help improve dream recall. Intrigued by these ideas, I decided to do some research of my own.
What is Dream Incubation?
It turns out that influencing your dreams by thinking about something before falling asleep is called “dream incubation.” This involves setting intentions and visualizing specific scenarios.
If you spend a few minutes picturing the dream you want—focusing on details and emotions—it’s more likely to appear. Practicing this throughout the day, but especially right before bed, can increase the chances of success.
Research also suggests that creating a bedtime routine with calming, positive elements can influence not just the content of your dreams but also their overall tone.
This all aligns with how the unconscious mind works. If you go to sleep stressed or preoccupied with your to-do list, you’re more likely to have a stressful dream or nightmare. A few years ago, I realized I couldn’t watch horror or thriller movies before bed because they would directly translate into my dreams. Just recently, I watched Pretty Little Liars before falling asleep and ended up dreaming that someone had broken into my house and was trying to capture me.
How To Influence Your Dreams
Ready to give it a try? Practice makes progress! Here are a few steps that might help.
- Set an Intention – Clearly decide what you’d like to dream about.
- Create a Relaxing Bedtime Routine – Engage in calming activities like meditation or reading.
- Visualize Your Desired Dream – Spend a few minutes imagining vivid details and emotions.
- Use a Dream Journal – Write down your intention before sleep and record dreams immediately upon waking.
- Practice Regularly – Consistency helps your subconscious mind respond better to your intentions.
Are you a person used to 3rd person dreaming? See if this process impacts your participation or perspective in your dreams.
What’s So Great About Influencing or Incubating Your Dreams?
Our dreams can shape how we feel the next day, so setting intentions and falling asleep in a calm state could have a bigger impact than we realize.
Besides that, dream incubation can potentially be used recreationally, but also to enhance creativity or solve problems literally while you sleep. Researchers at institutions like MIT have explored dream incubation extensively, particularly its applications through techniques like Targeted Dream Incubation (TDI).
Motivations for practicing dream incubation include:
- Fun: Experiencing enjoyable or adventurous scenarios in dreams – sort of like lucid dreaming.
- Creativity: Enhancing creative thinking by encouraging novel ideas and unique insights.
- Problem Solving: Leveraging your subconscious mind to find innovative solutions or clarity on complex issues. Or even napping your way to memories.
By purposefully shaping dreams, we can unlock deeper creativity, greater enjoyment, and innovative solutions in both our personal and professional lives.
Try visualizing your ideal dream and creating a peaceful bedtime environment—I’d love to hear how it goes!
