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Very interesting. I often wake up at night or early in the morning to go to bathroom, or take water. I found that the best way to go back to sleep after waking

Very interesting. I often wake up at night or early in the morning to go to bathroom, or take water. I found that the best way to go back to sleep after waking up is to think about the dream I just had. It seems like this 'forced' dream continuity is somehow sleep inducing. What may be happening to you is the same thing: your firs instinct is trying to remember your dream, as you trained yourself through years of dream journaling. It's a learned behaviour. But what happens is, this induces sleep, and you're caught in the loop. Maybe the trick is to go back to writing down your dreams when you wake up. This activity may keep you from falling back asleep. Hope this helps.

pulkitsh1234 6y ago
That's a really interesting take. I stopped journalling because I noticed I was interpolating the missing bits of my memory while writing down the dream. It became more like writing an imaginary story inspired from my dream, then recording my actual dream. But that said, I definitely think this is good way to force myself out of the loop.
- um_ya 6y ago
  Try splashing cold water in your face. Slap your self a few times. Turn on something that makes noise, like music. I would avoid recording your dreams, because it seems to be what got you stuck in the loop in the first place.
  - bigwavedave 6y ago
    The only thing that gets me out of bed is the day/night cycle bulbs my snake needs. I know I can automate turning off the night light and turning on the day bulb, but if I don't automate then I know she's depending on me when my alarm goes off so I have to physically get up, walk to the other room, and flip a couple switches. On my way back, it's very easy for me to sit down at the counter and eat the sandwich I made the night before for breakfast.
    - vram22 6y ago
      What kind of snake do you keep?
      - bigwavedave 6y ago
        She's a ball python! Just barely a year old and the sweetest noodle. She just barely became big enough for a 40 gallon tank.
        vram22 6y ago
        Sounds cool.
        bigwavedave 6y ago
        She is the best pet I've ever had. Very low-maintenance, doesn't musk, doesn't make noise in the middle of the night, and still shows/craves affection. Did you know snakes yawn? I sure didn't until I got her! Owning a snake has opened my eyes to a lot of amazing things about them :).
        vram22 6y ago
        Good info. No, I did not know that. Do you know about the Chennai Snake Park? It was founded by an American, Romulus Whitaker. I've been to it. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennai_Snake_Park https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennai_Snake_Park
        bigwavedave 6y ago
        That sounds like an amazing experience! I didn't know about it, but now it's on my list.
    - jooize 6y ago
      Have you tried switching places with the snake? You may want to set up automation first as you could find the snake not pushing the light button reliably every morning. Gradually dimming the bedroom light with a warm color temperature helps me get tired in the evening, and fading it in to a cold color temperature in the morning helps me wake up.
- blankaccount 6y ago
  I think thats the point of dream journaling - the dream itself doesn't matter, what matters is how your subconscious mind fills in the blanks to create meaning relevant to your waking life. Very interesting ideas in this thread: 1. Remembering the dream you were just having re-induces sleep 2. Writing a dream journal first thing every morning as a means of warming up higher levels of cognition (to help break through the morning haze) 3. Given #1 and #2: if you stop journaling, you might end up with a habit that puts you back to sleep in the mornings.
newhotelowner 6y ago
> I found that the best way to go back to sleep after waking up is to think about the dream I just had. It seems like this 'forced' dream continuity is somehow sleep inducing. That is what I do too. For me, it is the best way to fall sleep right away.
- Noumenon72 6y ago
  Sometimes I can even resume the dream I was having the morning before and fall asleep instantly. Unfortunately I usually can't remember.

pulkitsh1234 6y ago

That's a really interesting take. I stopped journalling because I noticed I was interpolating the missing bits of my memory while writing down the dream. It became more like writing an imaginary story inspired from my dream, then recording my actual dream. But that said, I definitely think this is good way to force myself out of the loop.

um_ya 6y ago
Try splashing cold water in your face. Slap your self a few times. Turn on something that makes noise, like music. I would avoid recording your dreams, because it seems to be what got you stuck in the loop in the first place.
- bigwavedave 6y ago
  The only thing that gets me out of bed is the day/night cycle bulbs my snake needs. I know I can automate turning off the night light and turning on the day bulb, but if I don't automate then I know she's depending on me when my alarm goes off so I have to physically get up, walk to the other room, and flip a couple switches. On my way back, it's very easy for me to sit down at the counter and eat the sandwich I made the night before for breakfast.
  - vram22 6y ago
    What kind of snake do you keep?
    - bigwavedave 6y ago
      She's a ball python! Just barely a year old and the sweetest noodle. She just barely became big enough for a 40 gallon tank.
      - vram22 6y ago
        Sounds cool.
        bigwavedave 6y ago
        She is the best pet I've ever had. Very low-maintenance, doesn't musk, doesn't make noise in the middle of the night, and still shows/craves affection. Did you know snakes yawn? I sure didn't until I got her! Owning a snake has opened my eyes to a lot of amazing things about them :).
        vram22 6y ago
        Good info. No, I did not know that. Do you know about the Chennai Snake Park? It was founded by an American, Romulus Whitaker. I've been to it. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennai_Snake_Park https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennai_Snake_Park
        bigwavedave 6y ago
        That sounds like an amazing experience! I didn't know about it, but now it's on my list.
  - jooize 6y ago
    Have you tried switching places with the snake? You may want to set up automation first as you could find the snake not pushing the light button reliably every morning. Gradually dimming the bedroom light with a warm color temperature helps me get tired in the evening, and fading it in to a cold color temperature in the morning helps me wake up.
blankaccount 6y ago
I think thats the point of dream journaling - the dream itself doesn't matter, what matters is how your subconscious mind fills in the blanks to create meaning relevant to your waking life. Very interesting ideas in this thread: 1. Remembering the dream you were just having re-induces sleep 2. Writing a dream journal first thing every morning as a means of warming up higher levels of cognition (to help break through the morning haze) 3. Given #1 and #2: if you stop journaling, you might end up with a habit that puts you back to sleep in the mornings.

newhotelowner 6y ago

> I found that the best way to go back to sleep after waking up is to think about the dream I just had. It seems like this 'forced' dream continuity is somehow sleep inducing. That is what I do too. For me, it is the best way to fall sleep right away.

Noumenon72 6y ago
Sometimes I can even resume the dream I was having the morning before and fall asleep instantly. Unfortunately I usually can't remember.