What are dreams?

Dreams are basically stories with images, sounds and sensations created by our brain while we sleep. Dreams can be vivid. They make us feel happy, sad and can also scare us.

Most of us dream, although we do not always remember our dreams. We know this because scientists have studied the brain waves of many people while they were sleeping and found that during sleep their brains were very busy doing something.

But why do we dream?

There are many theories about why we dream, but no one knows for sure. For some scientists, dreams are a way of processing and archiving all the sights, smells, sounds, tastes, and events of the day. In essence, dreams are a reflection of what is happening to you. For example, if you find yourself nervous about having a math or reading test; you probably dream that you have lost your notebook or your books.

Others say that dreams have no purpose or meaning and are meaningless activities that originate in our brain. So, if you’ve had a weird dream about a pizza while riding a bike, well, maybe that’s why.

don’t forget your dreams

Do you need something to write your dreams and not forget them? Try making your own dream journal.

A dream journal is a special place where you can keep track of your dreams when you wake up. In addition to writing, you can also draw on it.

Did you know . . . ?

✔ We sleep for about a third of our lives. On average, most people sleep about eight hours a night. If you do the math, this is about 122 days a year. When you are 75 years old you will have spent approximately 25 years asleep!