Have you ever let your mind wander and suddenly stumbled upon a great idea? Or woken up in the morning with a ‘lightbulb moment’? Dreams are a fascinating way to tap into the creative parts of our brains, offering inspiration that feels like it comes out of nowhere. And did you know that it’s possible to use them to spark creativity in everyday life? Here’s how to unlock the potential of your dreams and channel them into something truly imaginative.
Why are dreams important?
Dreams are one of life’s great mysteries. Why we dream is still debated, but many believe that dreaming helps us process real-world events, explore emotions and even delve into our deepest wishes. They provide a safe space to explore challenging topics that might feel too overwhelming in daily life.
But dreams may have another surprising purpose – to help us solve problems and discover fresh ideas. By removing us from our usual thought patterns, they can encourage creative breakthroughs. Throughout history, people have looked to dreams for guidance, from artists and inventors to religious leaders and warlords. Ancient texts such as the Bible, Quran, Torah and writings from ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt all reference dreams as sources of wisdom and inspiration.
Understanding sleep cycles
While dreams remain mysterious, science has uncovered a lot about the stages of sleep where dreaming happens. We tend to have our most vivid and memorable dreams during the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) stage, which makes up about 20% of our night. REM sleep happens in cycles, around 90 minutes apart, so we dream multiple times a night. That’s why you sometimes wake up in the middle of a particularly strange or vivid dream – it’s because you’re emerging from REM sleep.
But creativity isn’t limited to deep sleep. Some of the best ideas occur just as we’re falling asleep. Artist Salvador Dalí famously harnessed this moment by holding a set of keys over a metal plate as he dozed off. When he dropped the keys, the noise would wake him, and he’d capture the lingering images from his dreams for his surrealist masterpieces. Similarly, inventor Thomas Edison used this technique to spark ideas for his creations.
So, how can we use these moments to boost our own creativity?
How to remember your dreams
Dreams can be fleeting, but there are techniques to help you remember them, and not all of them are as drastic as Salvador Dalí’s!
Set an intention to remember your dreams
Before going to bed, tell yourself that you want to recall your dreams. It might sound simple, but this act of setting an intention can make a big difference. Try sitting on the edge of your bed and saying out loud, ‘Tomorrow, I will remember my dreams.’ This primes your subconscious to pay attention.
Start a dream journal
Keeping a dream journal by your bedside is one of the best ways to capture your dreams before they fade. As soon as you wake up, jot down everything you can remember – images, feelings, people, places and symbols. Dreams can slip away quickly, so it’s important to write them down immediately. Over time, recording your dreams can help you remember them more easily, and you may even start to spot patterns or themes.
How to use dreams for creativity
Dreams can inspire creativity in unexpected ways. Sometimes a dream might hand you a fully formed idea for a story, painting or project. Other times, it might be more subtle – a feeling, a connection or a theme that sparks inspiration. By keeping a dream journal, you create a record of these moments that you can revisit whenever you’re in need of creative ideas.
Dream journalling can also reveal recurring emotions, symbols or situations that might inspire you to explore them further. Maybe you keep dreaming about the same colour, place or animal. What does it mean to you? Could it be the starting point for a drawing, poem or idea for a character?
Another way to unlock creativity is by sharing your dreams with others. Talking about your dreams with friends or family can lead to fresh insights or interpretations that hadn’t occurred to you. What one person sees as a random detail, another might find deeply meaningful. Collaboration like this can turn dream fragments into something truly magical.
If you’re working on a specific project, you can even ‘seed’ your dreams with ideas. Before bed, think about the project or problem you want to solve. Your brain might surprise you with connections or solutions while you sleep.
Top tips for dream journalling
Don’t stress about spelling or grammar
Write quickly to capture as much detail as possible before your dream fades. This isn’t about perfect writing – it’s about preserving your ideas.
Write in the present tense
Recording your dream as though it’s happening now can help keep the images vivid in your mind.
Include every detail
Describe people, places, colours and symbols, as well as any emotions you felt during the dream. These details can spark new ideas later.
Use the format that suits you
Whether you prefer to write, sketch or record a voice note, choose the method that feels easiest and most natural to you.