Solve problems while you dream

When you’re struggling with a life dilemma, one of the best tactics is to get some sleep. Your brain, it turns out, is wired to conjure up the smartest situation as you snooze.

You may just have another weapon in your arsenal when it comes to tackling problems. You have probably heard the expression, ‘let me sleep on it.’ For thousands of years people have believed that dreams hold the answers to life’s problems. Now, ground-breaking new research suggests that not only are we capable of coming up with answers to life issues while conked out, but the solutions we devise are often better than those we may concoct while awake. Why? Because, scientists have discovered, the dreaming mind is able to go down several paths more easily, which leads to better, far more innovative resolutions. When you sleep, the prefrontal cortex of the brain shuts down. That’s the area that controls logic and considers social constraints. Basically, it’s the part that tells you not to do something because it doesn’t conform to social rules. With this area deactivated, you become adapt to thinking outside the box to formulate more successful ways to fix a problem that you’d normally never consider.

Now, you’re probably thinking about all the weird night visions you have – purple bunnies, cliff diving, whatever – and wondering how you’re supposed to interpret them to find your way out of some dilemma. It may not always be possible.

Psychologists warn that such instant solutions are not always viable. Dreams are complicated at the best of times, and it may not always be helpful to make them concrete. Your subconscious is at play, after all.

However, some scientists believe you could vividly dream an actual solution.

So how do you set yourself up to accomplish this? These three sets will get you there:

1. We’re told to put our problems aside before bed to get a good night’s sleep, so the following steps might not be viable for insomniacs or very anxious people whose problems keep them awake at night. However, if that’s not the case, you should start thinking about your problem a little before you climb between the sheets.
2. When something is on your mind at bedtime, you are more likely to dream about it. The more you mull over it, the more specific your solution will be. Jot down your dilemma – it’s been proven that the act of writing helps cement an idea into your brain. Or put an object on your nightstand that reminds you if the situation – such as a photo of your friend, if you’re fighting. Obviously, you don’t need a dream to figure out something small, like what to wear to a friend’s party. 
3. This technique works best when you’re grappling with something you’re emotionally invested in, such as family drama or getting ahead at work. The more important the issue, the more likely you are to come up with your answer as you sleep.
4. Keep your phone or a pen and paper on your nightstand, so if you wake up in the middle of the night, you can take notes. As you know, dreams are fleeting, so write down key details: words you used, points you made, body language you employed. The more precise your notes, the easier it will be to recall your full solution.
5. Lie in bed in the morning and go over what you remember and wrote down. Once you get up, your brain will be flooded with other information. Lastly, tweak your solution to make up for the social constraints your dreaming brain did not conform to.