The Surprising Links Between Your Dreams, Sleep Habits, and Your Health

We all know that getting enough sleep, and the right kind of sleep, is essential to good health—but how do dreams play a part in our overall wellbeing, and what are they trying to tell us? For National Sleep Awareness Month, Sleep Awareness Week, and World Sleep Day, Prevention is celebrating its first-ever Dream Week to take a closer look at our sleep habits, and what our dreams could have to say about our overall health. Check back to read the stories as they come out all week long (you’ll also find them in our newsletter and on our social channels, like Instagram, starting today)—plus ongoing, related coverage throughout the month!

Dream Week is a special series that investigates what we do—and don’t—know about the science of dreaming, and we’ve asked sleep experts from across the country to weigh in on some of the coolest and weirdest aspects of our brains while we dream.

You’ll learn all about the most common dreams (and the science behind why you might have them)—and you’ll be shocked to hear which themes topped the list. We’ll also dig into how exactly to attempt a lucid dream, and perhaps hack your dreams, should you want to take your Zzzs to a whole other dimension. On World Sleep Day, we hope you’ll read our extensive investigation into prodromal dreams (which, if you’ve never heard of them, are dreams that may predict disease).

And then we’ve carved out time to talk about your habits. Yep, those surprising things you do that could be totally ruining your sleep quality (unhand the phone!)…even down to whether or not you sleep with a pillow (and what experts recommend you should really do). We’re also talking about what sleep doctors recommend is the ideal amount of REM sleep you should be getting each night…(but psst: even if some things aren’t within your control, it doesn’t hurt to try and get more sleep, no matter who you are!).

Finally, we’ve tapped our in-house shopping experts to compile an extensive list of the best National Sleep Month and Sleep Week sales and deals—and upgrading the products you use for better sleep doesn’t stop there. We’ve tested, reviewed, and put your favorite products head-to-head in order to help make sure you’re spending your money on things that truly fit your lifestyle (and not just the latest gimmick). We’re even releasing a science-backed guide that details how to optimize your bedroom for better sleep (live March 15), which goes well beyond getting seven hours of rest.

The cherry on top? This month’s edition of Prevention Picks features all of our editors’ favorite sleep essentials (ranging from fun little treats to game-changing smart products that will change your life for the better). You’ll want one of each for yourself!

Day 1: Sleep Doctors Reveal What 10 Common Dreams Mean

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