A dream is lucid when it feels vivid and real (sometimes, hazier), but you know it isn't. It often happens during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and last for about 10 minutes. When you lucid dream, you’re aware of your consciousness, and you can control what happens in your dream. About 55% of people have had at least one lucid dream in their lifetime. Benefits of Lucid Dreaming Scientists are increasingly establishing a link between dreaming and mental health. Could taking control of your dreams lead to a better life? The answer is yes, lucid dreaming can allow you to:  Overcome Nightmares One of the most practical benefits of lucid dreaming is the power to conquer nightmares. If you become lucid during a bad dream, you can remind yourself that the scary situation isn’t real and even change the story. For example, you might face down a monster and turn...

You’ve probably wished someone a good night and sweet dreams more times than you can count. But what exactly are sweet dreams? Are they just pleasant thoughts, or do they have a deeper meaning? Let’s explore the science behind sweet dreams and how they can influence your emotions, creativity, and even your waking life. Understanding Dreams Dreams are the imaginative experiences that our minds generate while we sleep. They’re thought to help the brain process information from the day. Dreams are most vivid during the REM stage of sleep, when your brain activity is almost as high as when you’re awake. While dreaming can also happen during other sleep stages, these dreams are less vivid and harder to remember. On average, you experience 4 to 6 dreams each night, although most slip away from memory quickly. Some people may have as many as 7 dreams in one night, with each...