Why You May Be Having More Vivid Dreams Lately
Have you ever woken up from a dream that felt undeniably real?
It's probably because you've had what is called a vivid dream. Vivid dreams are ones that stick with us even after we wake up, often coming with very intense and colorful detail. If you're experiencing them, it may be because our waking lives can greatly impact what happens once we fall asleep. If your dreams have been particularly vivid lately, here are a few things that may be contributing.
Daily Habits
It shouldn't come as any surprise that the habits we demonstrate on a daily basis can contribute to changes in our dreams. Lifestyle changes can often manifest within dreams, whether that's a shift in eating habits or overall stress levels. Is there something coming up for you down the line that you are thinking about a lot during the day? If you're stressing in your dreams, they may be reminding you to find some time for yourself to release that extra pressure.
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Also read about: An Expert Explains Lucid Dreaming, and How It's Done
Lack of Sleep
If you've been experiencing a lack of sleep or many restless nights, your body will try to catch up on its REM cycle, the critical sleep stage where emotions are processed, new ideas are committed to memory and most dreaming occurs. This is known as the REM rebound effect, resulting in increased intensity of your REM cycle, and in turn, increasingly vivid and unusual dreams. Because the brain is very active during REM, sleep during this cycle isn't particularly deep—which is why it's so important to get your eight hours (or more) of sleep every night to keep yourself in balance.
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The Astrological Perspective
If you've noticed a shift in your thought patterns lately, you are not alone. Welcome to Pisces season, lasting from Feb. 19 to March 20. Pisces is the creative dreamer of the zodiac, which is why you may be feeling more in tune with intuitive messages and your artistic side during this time, as well as experiencing a deeper empathy with others. Because of this shift, it is also likely that these thought patterns are finding their way into our sleep at night.
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Also read about: Breaking Down Astrology: What Does Each Planet Represent in Your Birth Chart?
Understanding Your Dreams
There's nothing wrong with having vivid dreams. In fact, there's a lot you can learn from them! For a deeper understanding, try keeping a dream journal and logging all of the details from the night's sleep. If you notice the same dream (or even details or themes) keeps repeating itself, there may be a deeper reason for it. If you are dealing with something that is heavy on your mind and causing you anxiety, or if you tend to ruminate about issues or deadlines during the day, you may notice more stress-filled and intense dreams. A bit of analysis may let you know where to put your attention during the day.
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Want to learn more about what your dreams mean? Click HERE for the hidden meanings behind 35 of the most common dreams.