Track dream recall frequency.
Everyone dreams; recall is what varies. Nights with a remembered dream as a share of nights logged is the standard recall rate, and multiplying by dreams per recall night gives a per-night figure that is comparable across different logging periods. Recall detail decays within minutes of waking, which is why the delay before writing appears in the band: waiting a quarter of an hour costs a large share of what you could have recorded.
Dream recall rate
Recall rate = nights with recall / nights logged x 100; dreams per night = nights with recall x dreams per recall night / nights logged
These figures are estimates based on population-average formulas and are intended for training and recreational planning only. They are not medical advice. Consult a qualified health professional before starting or changing an exercise programme, particularly if you have an existing medical condition.
Write immediately on waking without moving much, keep the journal within reach, and wake naturally where possible. Recall improves markedly within a couple of weeks of consistent logging.
Not by itself. Recall varies widely between healthy people and depends heavily on which sleep stage you wake from.
Dreams recalled are usually those interrupted from REM sleep, which is concentrated late in the night. Alarms during deep sleep produce far less recall.