Science says: this is why you dream more intensely in winter
And this is what you can do about it
Although I usually forget my dreams as soon as I wake up, I have been waking up more often lately with some vague memories of the adventures that took place in my head at night. People you haven't seen in years suddenly appearing, or the horror stories where all your teeth fall out. For everyone who recognizes this; don't worry, we haven't gone crazy. Research shows that you can indeed dream more intensely in winter; but fortunately, there are also ways to address it.
More time to dream
In winter, the days are a lot darker. Because you see so little sunlight and the days also feel shorter, your body produces more melatonin; the hormone that regulates our sleep. This in turn ensures that you sleep much deeper and go through more REM cycles, the phase in which most dreams occur. According to research in the Frontiers in Neuroscience magazine, REM sleep in winter lasts on average 30 minutes longer than in summer. So you have much more time to dream in these cold months, which means you experience more intense and crazier things. Here’s a small selection of what might come up and what it means, according to dream analyst Inbaal Honigman: that nightmare where your teeth fall out is actually a sign that you are dealing with a significant loss or a major change in your life. Do you see spiders everywhere? Then you want to face fears and challenges. Is your partner (or maybe you) cheating in your dream? Then that is a sign of personal insecurities or unresolved relationship issues. No matter how crazy your dream is, there is always some meaning behind it. Maybe it’s time to use the ‘what does my dream mean’ search query.
What to do?
Even if you forget the exact content in the morning, you can still notice some effects throughout your day. Some dreams are so intense that you wake up tired from them, especially the case with nightmares. But fortunately, there are various tricks you can use to calm the adventures in your REM sleep a bit.
1. Pay attention to your diet and alcohol consumption
What you eat and drink in the evening can greatly influence how you sleep and thus also dream. A light meal, such as a soup, ensures that your digestive process remains calm, leading to better dream quality. Anything warm, moist, sweet, or just a little salty has a calming effect, allowing you to dream more peacefully. Conversely, anything cold, dry, or spicy causes more unrest in your head and thus more intense dreams. That glass of wine in the evening also disrupts your natural sleep rhythm and leads to a more active and intense REM sleep, so it’s better to skip it.
2. Use meditation
The emotions you feel when you are awake can greatly determine how you will dream. The more restless you are, the more negative your dream will be. By taking some time for meditation or other relaxation exercises just before going to bed, you can reduce that feeling of stress and ensure a calmer night in your head.
3. Pay attention to what time you go to sleep and get up
The next tip may not be for everyone, but I want to share it with you anyway. According to Ayurvedic doctor Dr. Naresh Perumbuduri, you should actually be in bed by 10:00 PM and get up at 6:00 AM. This natural rhythm leads to deeper and more restful sleep and thus calmer dreams. You don’t have to completely change your own rhythm right away; by gradually working towards this, you will notice more results.
4. Don’t sleep on your left side
Everyone has their favorite sleeping position. Mine turns out to be exactly the wrong one. Research shows that 40% of people who sleep on their left side experience nightmares, while it’s only 14.61% for those who sleep on their right side. This is because when you lie on your left side, more pressure is placed on internal organs and your breathing pattern is disrupted. This discomfort leads to more activity in your brain, causing negative emotions and nightmares. It’s better to lie on your right side or on your back. Although, of course, you don’t always have control over that once you fall asleep.
5. Write down your dreams
Every dream has a meaning. If you often dream the same thing, there might be something in your life that deserves a little extra attention. By writing down your (special) dreams, you can discover if there is a ‘problem’ that needs to be solved. Once that is done, the chances are high that that intense dream will not return for a while and you will get through the night peacefully again. And otherwise, there is always one reassuring thought: it will eventually be summer again., And this is what you can do about it.
Source: The Every Girl
