Have you ever woken up with the hazy sense that you must have dreamt about something — but for the life of you, you can’t remember what it was? Or perhaps you’re convinced you don’t dream at all, while others wake up recalling wild adventures, strange places, and conversations with people long gone.
If you’ve ever wondered why some people never seem to remember their dreams, you’re not alone. It’s a surprisingly common question, and the answer is a mix of science, psychology, and how tuned in we are to our inner world.
Let’s dive in.
Does Everyone Dream?
First things first — yes, everyone dreams. Whether you remember them or not, your brain produces dreams during the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep. On average, we dream for about two hours every night, broken up into several sessions.
Dreams can be vivid, bizarre, emotional, or downright nonsensical — but they’re happening whether you’re aware of them or not. So if you’re someone who thinks they never dreams, it’s not that your brain isn’t creating them; it’s just that you’re not recalling them when you wake.
So Why Don’t Some People Remember Their Dreams?
There’s no single, clear-cut reason why dream recall varies so much from person to person, but a few key factors seem to play a role.
1. Sleep Patterns and Wake Timing
The moment you wake up plays a big part in whether a dream sticks around in your memory. Dreams tend to be strongest and most memorable if you wake directly from REM sleep, when your brain activity is closest to waking consciousness.
If you wake during a different sleep stage — or if your alarm jolts you out of a deep, non-dreaming sleep — it’s much harder to hold onto any dream fragments. It’s a bit like trying to remember a cloud you glimpsed out of the corner of your eye.
2. Brain Chemistry
Research suggests that certain brain regions, like the temporoparietal junction, are more active in people who frequently recall their dreams. These areas help process information and emotions — both of which feature heavily in dreams.
On top of that, neurotransmitters like norepinephrine, which are involved in memory formation, dip significantly during REM sleep. This means that even though you’re dreaming away, your brain isn’t as good at laying down solid memories while it’s happening.
3. Personality and Awareness
Some studies have found that people who are naturally introspective, emotionally sensitive, or interested in dreams tend to remember them more often. If you wake up and immediately try to recall your dreams, you’re more likely to remember them.
On the other hand, if you jump straight out of bed and start tackling the day, any lingering dream memories tend to evaporate quickly. It’s a case of use it or lose it.
4. Stress, Sleep Disruption and Lifestyle
High stress, poor sleep habits, and erratic schedules can affect your dream recall too. If you’re not sleeping deeply or consistently enough to cycle through REM stages properly, or if your sleep’s being fragmented by waking during the night, it reduces the chances of remembering dreams.
Certain medications, alcohol, and sleep disorders like insomnia or sleep apnoea can also dull dream recall by affecting sleep quality and the normal flow of sleep cycles.
Is It a Bad Thing If You Don’t Remember Your Dreams?
Not at all. Forgetting dreams is completely normal and nothing to be worried about. For some people, dreams feel like an important source of insight or creativity, while others are quite happy to let them pass by unnoticed.
Interestingly, some theories suggest that we evolved to forget dreams because, if we remembered every single one, it might clutter up our memory and make it harder to focus on day-to-day experiences.
That said, if you’re curious about your dreams, there are simple ways to improve recall.
Can You Train Yourself to Remember Dreams?
Yes — and it’s easier than you might think. Like any habit, recalling dreams gets easier the more you practise.
A few gentle tips:
- Keep a notebook by your bed and jot down anything you remember the moment you wake, even if it’s just a feeling, colour, or random word.
- Set the intention before sleep. Telling yourself, I’m going to remember my dreams tonight can subtly prime your mind to be more aware when you wake.
- Wake naturally, without an alarm if possible. Being jolted awake tends to scatter dream memories quickly.
- Stay still for a moment before moving when you wake up. Movement can push dream fragments further out of reach.
It won’t happen overnight, but over time, you might be surprised at what comes back to you.
Final Thoughts
Whether you remember your dreams or not, your mind is quietly weaving its stories every night. They might be wild, comforting, unsettling, or downright strange — but they’re part of the unique language of your subconscious.
Some of us are natural dream recallers, while others need to work at it. Either way, it’s perfectly normal. And who knows? Tonight might be the night you wake up with a vivid, unforgettable dream lingering at the edges of your mind.
