Did you remember your dreams last night? Whether you remember them or not, it is normal to dream while you sleep.
As you sleep, you would go through multiple sleep cycles, each lasting around 90-110 minutes and consists of 4 stages: pre-sleep, light sleep, deep sleep and REM (Rapid Eye Movement). Dreams mainly occur in the RMB sleep stage but may also happen in any sleep stage. Sleep studies show that the average person goes through 3-5 dreams each night, while some may have up to 7 dreams. However, most people won’t be able to remember their dreams after waking up. If you do remember a particular dream, it was probably because you woke up during or right after that dream.
How do dreams affect our health?
Studies show that dreaming is good for us. Dreaming can help us consolidate our memories, relieve stress and make you feel more relaxed, especially after a happy dream. In contrast, having multiple dreams or nightmares would make it difficult for you to sleep well and you would likely wake up feeling groggy the next day, affecting your mood and work performance. The cycle continues if you are constantly experiencing high stress levels, often reflected in your dreams with more nightmares and poor sleep quality.
Does good sleep equal happy dreams?
Research shows that good sleep quality can likely lead to pleasant and happy dreams, while people with insomnia may experience dreams that are less enjoyable. Further, if you dream during the REM sleep stage, it’s usually a good sign that you’re getting quality sleep while improving your memory and overall health!
