time travel in my dream

Time Travel Dream Meaning

What does a time travel mean in your dream, time travel.

To see time travel in dreams is a common occurrence. Time travel in dreams is a "crazy" dream and often happens a lot (like going back to your childhood or going forward in time) as a dream concept, has been a crazy science fiction concept for decades.

What does it mean to dream of time travel?

I often wonder about time travel in that if you went into a parallel universe during your dream. Could these nighttime journeys be more than just figments of your imagination—perhaps a glimpse into alternate realities or dimensions through a phenomenon known as quantum jumping? When we dream of traveling back to the past or propelling into the future, it suggests a focus of time that is distinctly different from our waking life. What many may dismiss as mere silly bits of our imagination could actually represent stepping into the past for future and I will discuss that more. Time ravel can be a symbol of the subconscious mind's power to connect different aspects of our lives. A jump into the past may indicate a need to revisit unresolved issues, learn from previous mistakes, or reconnect with lost aspects of self. Leaping forward, on the other hand, might represent anticipation, anxiety about the unknown future, or even an intuitive insight into potential outcomes.

The Intriguing World of Quantum Mechanics

Quantum mechanics has shown us that at a fundamental level, the universe works in mysterious and sometimes weird ways. If we look at science particles can exist in two places at once, and even affect their past. This strange behavior has led to the rise of many theories, including that of quantum jumping—where one can travel across different dimensions or timelines.

Dreams are a powerful aspect of our consciousness. While most scientists view dreams as our brain's way of processing emotions, memories, and experiences, others believe in the potential for dreams to act as portals to different versions of reality. The multiverse theory is kind of crazy, and when looking at your dream of time travel could provide clues to where you are now. You may know that in dreams we potentially have different versions of events, different outcomes, and essentially unique incarnations of ourselves. Time travel dreams, then, could be interpreted as looking through a window into these alternate universes, experiencing life through the eyes of another 'self'.

Quantum Jumping and Consciousness

I want to talk briefly about this as I feel it is important. Quantum jumping refers to the hypothetical possibility of moving from one state of being to another -- essentially 'jumping' into a different existence or reality. This concept takes on a metaphysical angle when it comes to consciousness. Could our consciousness intersect with the fabric of reality, enabling us to experience other lives and worlds in our dreams?

Of course (I am sure you will agree) we must also face this with a healthy dose of skepticism when discussing concepts like time travel and quantum jumping. The scientific community focuses on empirical evidence and replicable results, and as of now, these dream theories do not stand up to rigorous scientific scrutiny.

That being said, the scientific understanding of consciousness, the brain, and the universe is constantly evolving. What's dismissed as a dream today could be tomorrow's breakthrough. The line between imagination and reality may be less defined than once thought, leaving room for new interpretations and theories.

While there is no concrete evidence to suggest that your time travel dream is indeed a form of quantum jumping to another dimension. Dreams remain largely a mystery, and the potential of human consciousness is still unfolding. Whether these nighttime dreams are pure imagination or something more, they remind us that there is much about the universe -- and ourselves - that we have yet to understand.

The main cause of such dreams is that you may feel nervous about the future or regret the past. You may find yourself in a situation (in waking life) where you are deeply dissatisfied with what happened in a particular period and you see that capability in yourself to change it, by actually being in that time in your dream. To dream about time travel also means that you might be connected to a stage in your life. Time travel is also heavily influenced by movies, such as Back to the Future films so maybe you could have been watching these sorts of movies before the dream. If so, then the time travel can mean it has entered your subconscious mind.

What does it mean to dream of going into the future?

Our dream self may find ourselves in the future during dreams. This is quite a creepy dream. To find yourself stepping into the future is associated (in my view) with breaking away from the constraints of current reality. So, what does this leap in time suggest? I feel it is a sort of "vision" of where we hope to be, what achievements we may reach, or the person we aspire to become. These dreams can inspire us, moving towards goals and a desire for progress. They're an escape into a world of so many possibilities, a place where your highest goals are within reach. I also feel these dreams may mirror your own anxieties. Dreaming of stepping into this dream is a way to confront fears about what lies ahead. 

What does it mean to dream of going back in time?

So why would we go back in time? It could be that you need to move in a certain direction. If you dream of traveling back in time, it signifies that most likely you wish to rekindle your long-lost romance. You might have even forgotten that individual or not thought about them in a very long time. You might also relive those good old days with your family and childhood friends, with whom you are not in touch now. This is a sign that your life is connected to your heroic, noble, moral, and social characteristics. Each of us has a hidden personality of a leader, entrepreneur, pioneer, beauty queen, or other which we have never explored except in our dreams.

Through traveling back in time we choose the best part from the history that we like and view it from our viewpoint and imagination. Most of the time we may dream of the same stereotypical image which may be the cause of our hidden fantasies. Time travel in dreams also represents your wish to walk away from the realities of your life. You want to go back and forth in time but don’t want to face your present and this means you might be an unsuccessful and incompetent person in real life and the face of failure is not new to you. You have a desire for change but because you are not dealing in reality change never happens. This is a sign to wake up and deal with issues in the here and now. You want to see yourself in that time when you emerge as a winner. If you have realized this then it is the time to come out of the bubble that you’ve created and face the present situation.

The occurrence of time travel depends on the time, place, and emotions you might have at present. To find the real meaning of dreams related to time traveling it is essential to find the behavior of your time frame.

What is the biblical meaning of time travel?

The Bible doesn't explicitly discuss time travel in the way we think of it today. However, there are passages and interpretative traditions that some believers and theologians argue give us insights into the biblical meaning of time. Prophets like Isaiah, Daniel, and John the Apostle, have visions of the future. These visions (outlined in the bible) could be construed as God allowing a glimpse through the corridor of time for your own purposes -- primarily as warnings or revelations.

For example, the Book of Revelation written by John is filled with vivid imagery and events that are said to occur at the end of time. This apocalyptic literature may be seen as 'time travel' into the future, where the seer is given a divine message about what is to come.

Furthermore, God's nature as described in the Bible transcends time. I’m sure you will agree with me God is often described as an eternal being, the Alpha and Omega, who exists outside the constraints of human temporal understanding. In this sense, the biblical narrative acknowledges a plane of existence where time as we know it is irrelevant or behaves differently.

Free will and predetermination interact in complex ways in the bible. Another reference to time travel I found is the Tower of Babel story (Genesis 11:1–9), while not directly related to time travel, outlines the potential chaos of subverting divine order. It reflects a cautionary perspective on the limitations humans must observe in the face of divine authority.

The biblical meaning of time travel considering all the above, could be seen as our journey through the path set by God. So what I am trying to say is that biblically this dream could mean that your path is being set out. So let me finally say, that while the Bible may not provide direct evidence for the concept of time travel it offers a rich sort of “paradigm” for understanding time from a spiritual viewpoint.

By looking deeper into these time travel meanings, we glean insights that resonate beyond the reaches of our dreams. So next time you find yourself stepping into the future within the tapestry of your dreams, consider it an opportunity—a rare moment to parley with your subconscious about the hopes and terrors of the ticking clock. Dreaming of the future isn't just about seeing what might be; it's about coming to terms with what is and deciding what we will aim to create.

In your dream you many have

• Went backwards in time to express your ideology or your love.
• Went ahead in time just to experience what it could be in the future.
• Went back in your time, to re-live those moments of happiness and remorse but with your viewpoint.
• Seen yourself as a child or in a younger time in your life.
• Wished you had done something different in your past.

Positive changes are afoot if

• If you want to go back in time to make things better, it shows you’re caring and helping attitude without your self interest.
• If you go forward in time and see yourself happy or in a position of greatness.

Feelings that you may have encountered during a dream of time travel

Happiness, sexuality, heroism, nobility, romantic, confused, unsure, wistful, unhappy, curious.

By Flo Saul Mar 21, 2013

Auntyflo Tarot Wheel

Wondering what the future holds? Spin my tarot wheel to find out.

What does your palm mean?

Celebrating over 15 years online. The most acclaimed illustrated palm reading guide.

Tarot Reading -  PICK A CARD

Click Here For Timestamps   ~ A SPIRITUAL message for YOU!

You may also like

Face Readings

Tarot Wheel

Dream About Time Travel

Did you recently have a dream about time travel and now you’re left pondering about its meaning?

A dream of this sort can suggest numerous things, including a chance to explore a lost passion or a surprising revelation about your partner.

If this resonates with you, then this post is precisely what you need. In it, I will cover 10 potential interpretations of your time travel dream to guide you through its symbolism.

Table Of Contents

1. A Significant Life Change is Coming

When you dream about time travel, you are essentially visiting different periods of your life. This might suggest that a major shift is on the horizon.

Consider your dream as a way of preparing for this shift. For example, if you are time-traveling into the future, it could symbolize an upcoming promotion at work or the arrival of a new family member.

This significant life change is a common time travel dream meaning, symbolizing that you’re on the brink of a new chapter.

Just as your dream sees you stepping into uncharted territories, similarly, in your life, you are about to embark on a new path.

2. Unexpected Adventure Awaits

Dreaming about time travel often signifies a desire for novelty, exploration, and thrill. Hence, if you’ve had such a dream, it might mean that an unexpected adventure awaits you.

Perhaps, you’ll be thrown into a situation that demands quick thinking and decision-making, like an unplanned road trip or a surprise work project.

Your real-life may soon echo this sense of anticipation and exhilaration, taking you on an unanticipated adventurous journey.

3. A Surprising Revelation About Your Partner

Dreaming about time travel can often shed light on aspects of our relationships that we may not consciously acknowledge. This is particularly true if the dream is populated with scenes involving your partner.

This might mean a surprising revelation about your partner is on the horizon. For example, you may learn about their childhood ambition or discover a hobby they’ve kept hidden.

As dreams about time travel often lead us to unknown territories, your relationship might soon reveal a similar path, uncovering facets of your partner that were previously unexplored.

4. Transition Into a New Phase in Life

A time travel dream meaning often involves transitioning into a new phase. If you’ve been dreaming of time travel, it might symbolize an upcoming transformation.

Perhaps you’re going to graduate from university, start a new job, or move to a different city.

These life transitions are just like the epochs you traverse in your dream, marking significant turning points.

The leap from one era to another in your dream mirrors the real-life transition that awaits you.

5. Surprising News from a Distant Relative

Dreaming about time travel can be reflective of distant connections coming back into your life. This may mean that surprising news from a distant relative is on the way.

Imagine a dream in which you are whisked away to a past family gathering, meeting relatives you’ve not seen in years.

This could reflect an upcoming reconnection, such as an unexpected call or a letter bearing news from a relative you’ve not heard from in a while.

6. You’ll Mend a Broken Relationship

This can be a powerful sign that you’re on the path to reconcile a broken relationship in real life.

Perhaps you’ve recently had a disagreement with a friend or colleague, and this dream of time travel is preparing you for the reconciliation process.

The journey through different eras in your dream indicates that you’ll navigate through past misunderstandings to reach a peaceful resolution.

7. Fulfilling a Childhood Desire

In dreams about time travel, revisiting past childhood times can signify that you might soon fulfill a childhood desire.

The time travel in your sleep is a symbolic journey through past dreams, indicating that your long-standing desires may soon come to fruition.

8. Chance to Explore a Lost Passion

When dreaming about time travel, experiencing moments of intense passion can imply a chance to rekindle a lost passion.

Say you once loved playing the guitar but let go of the hobby due to other commitments.

Seeing yourself playing in a band in your dream can signify that circumstances will soon allow you to pick up the guitar again.

The dream meaning of time travel here is a roadmap to the reawakening of past passions, offering a chance to reignite a hobby or interest you once loved.

9. Resolving an Unresolved Conflict

Dreaming about time travel can indicate an opportunity to resolve an unresolved dispute. Perhaps you had an argument with a friend and didn’t get the closure you wanted.

Dreaming about time travel and revisiting this conflict suggests that an opportunity for resolution is around the corner.

Similar to how your dream self navigates through past tumult, you’ll also be able to resolve past disputes in real life.

10. Upcoming Life-Altering Decisions

Finally, a frequent dream meaning of time travel is about crucial decisions. If your dream about time travel involved making significant choices, this might point to upcoming life-altering decisions.

These could range from deciding on a job offer or choosing to pursue higher education.

The act of time travel in your sleep is akin to hopping between various paths and choices, suggesting that your life will soon mirror this experience, presenting you with important decisions that could change the course of your life.

💎 Important Questions

1. Who was with you in your time travel dream?

If you were alone, it could indicate that a personal endeavor you’ve been considering might come to fruition.

On the other hand, if you were traveling with someone known to you, it could imply that your relationship with that person is going to enter a new phase.

Perhaps you and your best friend are going to embark on a thrilling project together.

2. Where did you travel to in your dream?

If you found yourself traveling to the past, it could signify that you will encounter an opportunity to right a past wrong or mend a broken friendship.

However, if you time-traveled to the future, it may hint at you getting a glimpse of an upcoming change in your life – like moving to a new city or experiencing an unexpected adventure.

3. Were there any notable objects or symbols in your dream?

If you recall seeing an old clock, it might suggest that you will discover the importance of time management in an upcoming project.

Spotting a futuristic gadget, on the other hand, could hint at you being exposed to some new technology at work, helping you advance your career.

4. How did you feel during the dream?

If you felt excitement and anticipation, it could mean that you are about to face a thrilling phase in your life. Maybe you’re about to embark on a vacation you’ve always dreamt of.

However, if you felt puzzled or bewildered, it might imply that a surprising revelation about a friend or coworker is around the corner.

5.  Was there any significant event that happened during your time travel?

If you had a meaningful interaction with a person from the past or future, it might hint that you will encounter a mentor who will guide you in an upcoming challenge at work.

If you witnessed a historical or future event, it may suggest that you’ll soon gain a new perspective on a current situation.

6. How did you time travel in your dream?

If you traveled in a time machine, it could mean that you’ll utilize a new tool or resource that will greatly help in your professional advancement.

If you simply blinked and found yourself in a different time, it might suggest an abrupt yet positive change in your current situation.

7.  Did you return to your original time in the dream?

If you returned to your present time, it could hint at a cyclical pattern in your life about to close, like completing a project at work.

On the other hand, if you remained in the past or future, it could suggest that a transformative period in your life is soon to commence, like a career change.

8. Was there a specific period you traveled to?

If you visited a time from your childhood, it might indicate that you’ll rekindle a lost passion or hobby.

On the other hand, visiting a far-off future could mean you’ll witness a technological advancement that could benefit your career or personal life.

🧬 Related Dreams

Dream about time travel to the past.

If you’re having a dream about time travel to the past, it suggests you’ll get an opportunity to mend things that have gone awry.

This could be anything from renewing an old friendship that was unfortunately lost to making amends for a misunderstanding at work. You will have a chance to clear up old misunderstandings or revisit old triumphs.

In the same way, you could be reacquainting yourself with past lessons that are essential for your future success.

This dream is suggesting that your life is about to take an exciting turn where you’ll get the chance to rectify old mistakes, leading to improved relationships and personal satisfaction.

Dream About Time Travel to the Future

On the other hand, if you are dreaming about time travel to the future, it could be your subconscious hinting at the upcoming changes in your life.

It might be an unexpected promotion at work, or maybe a sudden relocation to a new city. The excitement of the unknown could be thrilling.

This dream suggests that you’re heading towards a period of innovation and exploration that could lead to new opportunities or experiences.

Dream About Time Traveling With A Companion

If you’re dreaming of time travel with a companion, it could mean that your relationship with this person is about to evolve.

Think of it like starting a new project with your best friend or maybe embarking on a thrilling adventure with them.

This shared journey might take your bond to new heights, strengthening your connection.

Dream About Time Traveling Alone

If you are alone in your time travel dream, it could mean that an individual endeavor you’ve been contemplating is about to take off.

The dream suggests that you’re about to embark on a journey where you will be the master of your destiny.

This dream might be hinting at an upcoming period where your personal ambition and creativity will take center stage.

Dream About Time Traveling To an Unknown Time

This dream suggests that you’ll soon be thrust into completely new circumstances that challenge your adaptability.

But fear not, this dream indicates that not only will you rise to the challenge, but you’ll also thrive, finding new strengths and capabilities within yourself.

Dream About Time Traveling To a Significant Time In History

If you dream about time travel to a significant time in history, it could be a harbinger of substantial changes ahead.

These transformations will revolutionize your life, opening new pathways and opportunities.

In the same way history shapes civilizations, these upcoming changes will mold your future, leading to remarkable and unexpected progress in your personal or professional life.

Dream About Time Traveling To Your Childhood

This is a hint that you’re about to revisit some of the fundamental elements of your personality or character. I

This dream points towards the possibility that these long-forgotten hobbies or interests could turn out to be beneficial for you in the future.

Whether it’s an old hobby you’d forgotten or a talent you didn’t fully explore, this is the time for it to flourish.

Time Traveling to Prehistoric Times

This dream about time travel to prehistoric times could be indicating that you’re about to face a fundamental change, as transformative as the shift from hunting to farming.

This dream implies that the shift will be in a direction that brings simplicity and naturalness back into your life.

Maybe it means adopting a healthier lifestyle, or perhaps it’s about downsizing and minimalism.

Regardless, this change is expected to have a profound impact on your future wellbeing and happiness.

Time Traveling to the Renaissance

This dream could be a sign that you are about to experience a period of rebirth in your creative endeavors.

Think about it as if you are about to make your own masterpiece, perhaps it could be an innovative project at work or a unique solution to a longstanding problem.

This dream suggests that your future holds a phase where your creativity and ingenuity will shine, leading to professional success and personal satisfaction.

Time Traveling to Different Dimensions

If you’re dreaming of time travel to different dimensions, it could mean that your future holds unexpected twists and turns.

This dream is hinting that your life will soon be full of intriguing developments that will keep you on your toes.

Whether it’s a puzzling challenge at work or an unexpected turn in your personal life, these experiences will enhance your problem-solving skills and resilience, leading to personal growth and success.

Time Traveling to Ancient Rome

This could signify that you’re on the brink of stepping into a leadership role or taking on a greater responsibility.

Just as Romans were known for their impressive governance, you may soon find yourself in a situation where your leadership skills are put to the test.

This dream signals that your future will be marked by significant achievements, whether it’s leading a project to success or guiding a team to victory.

Time Traveling to the Wild West

Suppose you’re dreaming about time travel to the Wild West. In that case, it might be hinting at a future where you’ll need to demonstrate courage and resilience.

This dream predicts that there may be challenging times ahead, but your courage will help you overcome these difficulties.

Time Traveling through Different Time Zones

Finally, dreaming about time travel through different time zones may seem disorienting but it carries an interesting message.

This dream could suggest that you’ll soon be juggling different tasks, roles, or responsibilities, akin to being in different time zones simultaneously.

💬 Reader’s Dreams

Journey on a time travelling train.

“In my dream, I was a passenger on a train – but it wasn’t an ordinary train. As it rushed along the tracks, each station we passed was a different time period”.

Meaning : This time travel dream suggests that your life will soon go through rapid and diverse changes. Similar to how the train journeyed through different eras, you’ll be transitioning through various phases in your life.

These changes could manifest in different ways – a job switch, relocating to a new place, or entering a new relationship.

But, like a seasoned traveler, you’ll handle these changes adeptly, finding each new “stop” on your journey an enriching experience.

Time Travel to Childhood

“Last night, I dreamt about time travel to my childhood days. I was back in my old neighborhood, playing with my childhood friends, and enjoying the innocence of that time. It was a journey back to my younger self”.

Meaning : Dreaming about traveling back to your childhood signifies that you will reconnect with some long-forgotten aspects of your personality.

Just as you revisited your youth in the dream, you might soon find yourself rediscovering hobbies or passions you once loved but had put aside.

You could start playing a musical instrument you used to love, reignite your passion for painting, or perhaps rekindle a friendship that was dear to you.

Time Travel to a Future City

“I dreamt I had traveled forward in time to a city of the future. The pace of life was fast, and everything was streamlined and efficient”.

Meaning : A dream like this indicates that you will soon adapt to new technologies or innovative methods in your daily life.

Like the advanced future city in your dream, your life will become more efficient and streamlined.

Time Travel to a Historical Battle

“I dreamt of time traveling to a historical battle. I was not a participant, but rather an observer, watching the action unfold from a safe distance”

Meaning : Dreaming of observing a historical battle could indicate that you’re about to witness a significant conflict or competition in your surroundings.

Just as you observed the battle from a distance, you will remain uninvolved yet fully aware of this situation.

Your position as an observer will give you a unique perspective and potentially offer you an opportunity to mediate or provide a fresh viewpoint.

I hope this post helps you understand your dream about time travel. If you have any questins- feel free to comment below.

Meet Betty Brown - the heart and soul behind BettyDreams. At 67 years young, Betty has a special talent - the gift to interpret dreams and spiritual events.

If you have a dream that has been haunting you, or a strange experience that you can't explain, Betty is the person to turn to.

1 thought on “Dream About Time Travel”

Thank you for the insight.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

© 2022-2024 BettyDreams - By using our website, you accept the terms and conditions presented in this Disclaimer

Privacy Policy

Time Travel Dream Meaning: Discover What it Really Means

Have you ever had a dream that took you to a different time or place? Perhaps you found yourself in the past, experiencing historical events or walking among people from a different era. Or maybe you traveled to the future, exploring a world radically different from our own. If so, you’ve had what’s known as a time travel dream. But what does it really mean? In this article, we’ll explore the basics of dream interpretation and delve into the significance of time travel dreams.

Table of Contents

Understanding the Basics of Dream Interpretation

Dream interpretation is an ancient practice that has been used for centuries to explore the subconscious mind. Dreams are thought to be a window into our deepest thoughts, fears, and desires. In order to interpret a dream, it’s important to look at the various symbols, themes, and emotions that were present in the dream. These elements can provide clues about what our subconscious mind is trying to communicate to us.

One important thing to keep in mind when interpreting dreams is that they are highly personal and subjective. What one symbol or theme means to one person may be completely different for another person. It’s important to take into account the individual’s personal experiences, beliefs, and cultural background when interpreting their dreams.

Another useful tool for dream interpretation is keeping a dream journal. Writing down your dreams as soon as you wake up can help you remember the details and emotions of the dream more accurately. Over time, patterns and recurring themes may emerge, providing further insight into your subconscious mind.

The Significance of Time Travel in Dreams

Time travel dreams are unique in that they often involve a departure from our current reality. They can be seen as a form of escapism, a way for our subconscious to explore an alternate reality. However, they can also be a reflection of our desire to escape from current problems or situations in our waking life. Time travel dreams can also be an indication of our fascination with history, science fiction or our desire to experience things that have not yet happened or will never happen.

Another interesting aspect of time travel dreams is that they can provide insight into our past or future. Dreams have been known to tap into our memories and bring up events or people from our past. Similarly, time travel dreams can also give us a glimpse into our future, allowing us to explore different possibilities and outcomes.

It is also worth noting that time travel dreams can have different meanings for different people. For some, they may represent a desire for adventure or a need for change. For others, they may be a way to process past traumas or unresolved issues. Ultimately, the significance of time travel dreams depends on the individual and their unique experiences and perspectives.

How to Analyze Your Time Travel Dream: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’ve recently had a time travel dream, you may be wondering how to analyze it. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Recall the dream in detail.

2. Identify the various symbols, themes, and emotions present in the dream.

3. Consider how these elements relate to your waking life.

4. Look for patterns or recurring themes in your time travel dreams to gain a deeper understanding of your subconscious.

5. Keep a dream journal to track your progress and gain valuable insights over time.

6. It’s important to note that time travel dreams can often represent a desire for change or a longing for a different outcome in a particular situation. Take some time to reflect on any areas of your life where you may be feeling stuck or dissatisfied, and consider how you can take steps towards creating the change you desire.

Common Themes and Symbols in Time Travel Dreams

Some common themes and symbols in time travel dreams include:

– Time machines or portals

– Historical figures

– Different eras or time periods

– Unfamiliar settings and environments

– Science fiction elements

– Fear or anxiety around time travel

Another common theme in time travel dreams is the idea of changing the past or future. This can manifest in dreams where the dreamer attempts to prevent a tragedy or alter a historical event. It can also be a source of anxiety, as the dreamer may worry about the consequences of changing the timeline. Additionally, dreams about time travel can be a reflection of the dreamer’s desire for escape or a longing for a different time or place.

What Your Time Travel Dream Says About Your Subconscious Mind

Your time travel dream can reveal a lot about your subconscious mind. For example, if you find yourself drawn to historical figures or events in your dream, this may indicate a fascination with history or a desire to connect with the past. If you feel fearful or anxious about time travel in your dream, this may be a reflection of your resistance to change or your fear of the unknown. Understanding the underlying meanings of your time travel dreams can help you gain important insights into your thought patterns and behaviors.

Another possible interpretation of a time travel dream is that it represents a desire to escape from your current reality. Perhaps you are feeling overwhelmed or dissatisfied with your life and are seeking a way to escape to a different time or place. Alternatively, your time travel dream may be a manifestation of your desire to explore new possibilities and experiences.

It is also worth noting that the specific details of your time travel dream can provide additional insights into your subconscious mind. For example, if you find yourself traveling to a specific time period or location, this may be significant in terms of your personal history or cultural background. By paying attention to these details and reflecting on their potential meanings, you can gain a deeper understanding of your own psyche and the factors that influence your thoughts and behaviors.

The Psychological Interpretation of Time Travel Dreams

From a psychological perspective, time travel dreams can be seen as a way for the subconscious mind to explore different aspects of the self. They can also be a reflection of our desire to escape from current problems or situations in our waking life. By examining the various symbols and themes present in your time travel dream, you can gain a deeper understanding of your inner psyche and motivations.

Furthermore, time travel dreams can also represent a longing for a different time or place. This could be a desire to revisit a happy memory or to experience a different era altogether. It is important to consider the emotions and feelings associated with the time and place in your dream, as they may hold clues to your current state of mind.

On the other hand, time travel dreams can also be a manifestation of anxiety or fear about the future. The ability to travel through time in a dream may represent a desire to control or change the future, or a fear of the unknown. By exploring these fears and anxieties, you may be able to gain a sense of control and find ways to cope with uncertainty in your waking life.

Exploring the Cultural and Historical Significance of Time Travel Dreams

Time travel has been a significant cultural and historical theme for thousands of years. From ancient myths and legends to modern science fiction literature and films, the concept of time travel has captured our imaginations for generations. By exploring the cultural and historical significance of this theme, we can gain a deeper understanding of our own subconscious desires and motivations.

One of the earliest examples of time travel in literature can be found in the ancient Hindu epic, the Mahabharata, which tells the story of King Revaita who travels to the heavens and returns to find that thousands of years have passed on Earth. This demonstrates that the concept of time travel has been present in human culture for thousands of years.

Furthermore, the popularity of time travel in modern media can be attributed to the advancements in science and technology. As our understanding of the universe and the laws of physics has grown, so too has our fascination with the possibility of time travel. This has led to an increase in scientific research and theories surrounding the concept, further fueling our cultural obsession with time travel.

The Role of Emotions in Time Travel Dreams: Fear, Anxiety, and Excitement

Emotions can play a powerful role in time travel dreams. Fear, anxiety, and excitement are common emotions that are often associated with these types of dreams. By examining the emotions you experienced in your dream, you can gain insight into your own fears and motivations. Understanding your emotions can also help you make sense of the various symbols and themes present in the dream.

One possible explanation for the prevalence of fear and anxiety in time travel dreams is the uncertainty and unpredictability of time travel itself. The idea of traveling through time can be overwhelming and unsettling, and these emotions may manifest in the dream as fear or anxiety. However, it is important to note that not all time travel dreams are negative or anxiety-inducing. Many people experience excitement and wonder in their time travel dreams, which can be a reflection of their curiosity and desire for adventure.

Another factor that can influence the emotions experienced in time travel dreams is the specific time period being visited. For example, traveling to a time of war or conflict may elicit feelings of fear or danger, while traveling to a time of peace and prosperity may evoke feelings of joy and excitement. The emotions experienced in the dream can provide insight into the dreamer’s personal associations and feelings towards different historical periods and events.

Tips for Recurring Time Travel Dreams: How to Address Them

If you’ve been experiencing recurring time travel dreams, there are a few tips you can follow to help address them:

– Keep a dream journal to track patterns and gain insights over time.

– Try to identify any triggers or stressors in your waking life that may be contributing to these dreams.

– Consider speaking with a therapist or counselor to explore the underlying causes of your dreams and develop coping strategies.

Can Time Travel Dreams Provide Insight into Past or Future Events?

While there is no scientific evidence to suggest that time travel dreams can provide insight into past or future events, they can reveal important information about our own thought patterns and motivations. By examining the various symbols and themes present in the dream, we can gain a deeper understanding of our own subconscious desires and fears.

The Connection between Lucid Dreaming and Time Travel Dreams

Lucid dreaming involves the ability to control and manipulate aspects of our dreams. Many people who experience time travel dreams report that they were aware they were dreaming and were able to control their actions within the dream. By practicing lucid dreaming techniques, you may be able to gain more control over your time travel dreams and explore them in a more intentional way.

The Importance of Keeping a Dream Journal for Analyzing Your Time Travel Dreams

Keeping a dream journal is an essential tool for analyzing your time travel dreams. By recording your dreams and reflecting on them over time, you can gain valuable insights into your subconscious mind. You may be able to identify patterns or recurring themes in your dreams that can help you better understand your own thought patterns and motivations.

When to Seek Professional Help for Recurring or Disturbing Time Travel Dreams

If you are experiencing recurring or disturbing time travel dreams, it may be a sign that you need professional help. A therapist or counselor can help you explore the underlying causes of your dreams and develop coping strategies to address them. They can also provide support and guidance as you work through any issues that may be contributing to your dreams.

Conclusion: Understanding the Meaning and Significance of Your Time Travel Dream

Time travel dreams can be a fascinating window into our subconscious minds. By examining the various symbols and themes present in the dream, we can gain a deeper understanding of our own thought patterns, desires, and fears. By practicing lucid dreaming techniques, keeping a dream journal, and seeking professional help when necessary, you can explore these dreams in a more intentional way and gain valuable insights about yourself.

Aurora Seeress is a renowned clairvoyant and medium who specializes in angel numbers, symbolism, numerology, and crystals. With a deep understanding of the spiritual world, she helps people find meaning and purpose in their lives. Despite skepticism, Aurora remains dedicated to helping people connect with their higher selves and find peace and fulfillment in life.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Lucid Dream Hub

Why you dream about time travel

Why am I dreaming about Time Travel?

If you’ve been dreaming about time travel, you’re not alone. Many people experience dreams that involve this intriguing concept.

But what does it mean? Why are you dreaming about time travel?

In this article, we will explore the symbolism, common types of dreams, negative and positive interpretations, the connection between time travel and lucid dreaming, and the key takeaways from these dreams.

Symbolism: Time Travel

Time travel is a powerful symbol in dreams, representing the desire for change or the ability to revisit the past or explore the future. It can symbolize a longing for a fresh start, a desire to correct past mistakes, or an urge to explore new possibilities.

Time travel dreams often reflect a yearning to escape the constraints of reality and experience something beyond the present moment.

Common Types of Dreams about Time Travel

• Traveling to the Past : One common type of time travel dream is going back in time. In these dreams, you may find yourself reliving a certain moment or witnessing events that have already occurred. This type of dream could indicate a need for reflection or a desire to learn from past experiences.
• Traveling to the Future : Another type of time travel dream involves journeying into the future. In these dreams, you may catch glimpses of what lies ahead or explore a future version of yourself or the world. These dreams often symbolize curiosity about what the future holds or a desire to envision potential outcomes.
• Parallel Universes : Some time travel dreams involve visiting parallel universes or alternate realities. In these dreams, you may encounter versions of yourself or people you know in different circumstances. These dreams can reflect a desire for change or the exploration of different paths and possibilities.

Negative Dream Interpretations: Time Travel

While time travel dreams can be fascinating, they can also carry negative interpretations. It’s important to consider the context and emotions surrounding the dream to better understand its meaning.

Feeling Trapped in the Past

One negative interpretation of time travel dreams is feeling trapped in the past. If you constantly find yourself reliving past events or unable to move forward, it could indicate unresolved issues or a fear of change.

These dreams may be a reminder to let go of the past and focus on the present and future.

Fear of the Unknown

Dreams about time travel can also evoke a fear of the unknown. Exploring the future or different realities may bring up anxieties about what lies ahead or the consequences of making different choices.

These dreams may be a reflection of uncertainty or a need to confront fears and embrace change.

Positive Dream Interpretations: Time Travel

On the flip side, time travel dreams can also have positive interpretations that highlight personal growth and new opportunities.

Embracing Second Chances

Dreams about time travel can represent a desire for second chances. They may symbolize a belief in redemption or a longing to rectify past mistakes.

These dreams can serve as a reminder to learn from the past and seize opportunities for personal growth and improvement.

Infinite Possibilities

Time travel dreams often evoke a sense of infinite possibilities. They can inspire creativity and encourage thinking outside the box.

These dreams may be a sign that you have the power to shape your own future and explore new paths and opportunities.

Time Travel and Lucid Dreaming

Lucid dreaming , the state of being aware that you are dreaming while in the dream, can often be connected to time travel dreams. While lucid dreaming allows you to have control over your dream experience, it can also provide a platform for exploring time travel scenarios .

Lucid dreamers may intentionally induce time travel dreams to explore the past or future, experiment with different outcomes, or gain insights into their own lives.

By harnessing the power of lucidity, individuals can create vivid and immersive time travel experiences within their dreams.

Key Takeaways: Dreams about Time Travel

Dreams about time travel can hold deep symbolism and reflect our desires, fears, and curiosity. They can symbolize a longing for change, a desire for second chances, or an exploration of infinite possibilities.

While negative interpretations may suggest feeling trapped or fearful, positive interpretations highlight personal growth and the embrace of new opportunities.

If you find yourself dreaming about time travel, take a moment to reflect on the emotions and themes present in the dream. Use these dreams as a catalyst for self-reflection, embracing change, and exploring the endless possibilities that life has to offer.

First time hearing about lucid dreaming?

My name is Lucy, I’ve been a lucid dreamer since 2001. It all started when one of my friends told me about her lucid dream experiences. The mere fact that she told me was enough, and that very night I became aware of the fact that I was dreaming while in my dream. Luciddreamhub.com is my attempt to do the same favour for all of my readers. If this is the first time you’ve heard about lucid dreaming, and you want to find out more about how you can get started and leverage the benefits yourself, I recommend that you start by reading these:

What is lucid dreaming?

Get to know lucid dreaming, a state between dream and reality – open for you to explore.

How to do lucid dreaming

Discover how to start dreaming lucidly, and start exploring your very own realm of dreams.

Lucid dreaming techniques

Learn popular lucid dreaming techniques, and get started tonight.

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies
• 3rd Party Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!

Time Travel

The mysterious world of dreams has always captivated our interest. One such intriguing dream symbol is time travel. Delving into the world of the subconscious, we find that time travel in dreams can have several meanings and implications. Let’s explore the fascinating interpretations of this dream by breaking down the different perspectives into bite-sized ideas:

1. Longing for the past: Time travel dreams often represent a yearning for simpler, happier times. Our subconscious may take us back to cherished memories, significant events, or lost opportunities that we wish to revisit or relive.

2. Self-exploration: Dreaming about time travel could also be a sign of the dreamer’s desire for introspection and self-discovery. Journeys through time may provide insight into one’s personality, strengths, and weaknesses, encouraging personal growth.

3. Fear of the future: Time travel dreams can also symbolize anxiety or fear about what lies ahead. The dreamer may feel uncertain about their path in life, career choices, or personal relationships, and the dream acts as a way to confront and work through these feelings.

4. Grasping opportunities: Some time travel dreams may serve as a reminder to seize opportunities when they present themselves. The dreamer could be subconsciously urging themselves to take risks, learn from past mistakes, and actively shape their future.

5. Resolving issues: Dreams of time travel to the past or future can signify the need to address unresolved problems or conflicts. Such dreams may encourage the dreamer to confront their past, make amends, and seek closure in order to move forward and achieve a sense of balance in their life.

In conclusion, time travel dreams invite us on a journey into our own subconscious mind. With greater perplexity and burstiness in the dream, the experience becomes even more vivid. Whether they take us down a nostalgia trip, bring to light fears about our future, or remind us to seize opportunities, these dreams often provide valuable insights into our feelings, thoughts, and desires. Don’t shy away from the mysteries of your subconscious; instead, embrace them and let them guide you through the incredible world of dreams.

Related Dreams

Time Traveling In Your Dreams

In the past few weeks, I’ve had at least two dreams involving time travel.

The first, I found myself in 1995. It was that strange variety of time travel involving the human consciousness — I inhabited the body of my younger self. Most of the dream, I spent my time trying to convince everyone that I was from the future. I rattled off a few major events — 9/11, etc. — but I couldn’t remember anything specific about that time in our lives that would convince anyone of the truth.

The second, I was in 1985, trying to buy some rare video game or something at a mall. Just good, old fashioned time travel on this occasion  But oh, wait — I couldn’t buy anything, because all my money was from the year 2000+ and no one would take it. It looked weird.

And so I stumbled upon two time travel quandaries: proving you’re a time traveler from the future, and getting along with the past.

Those, of course, were just dreams ( or were they? …heh). But they got me thinking about a strange story I saw on Reddit not too long ago.

It was about a man who may have traveled through time and space in his sleep.

Split Perspectives In Time

About a year ago, Reddit user OutofH2G2references shared his strange experience in a post titled My father stops me from disrupting space-time when I travel back in time .

He was about seven or eight years old when it happened. “I had a bad dream about being old,” he wrote, “I went out to the living room to talk to my Dad who always used to play Legos with me when I had a bad dream.”

They got out the Legos, as always, but he quickly noticed something was wrong. “There was a man in a chair,” he wrote, “I went to introduce myself, and to my surprise my dad shooed me away, got out my Legos and proceeded to talk to the man instead of play with me.” This was doubly strange, because OutofH2G2 had always been “taught to shake hands” and introduce himself to guests.

“The man and my father talked for some time about things I didn’t understand and neither said a word to me. It was weird, but I was young and the Legos were fun and eventually I forgot the whole thing and went to bed.”

He didn’t think much more about that night, until 12 years later when he had a bizarre, though incredibly vivid, lucid dream experience. He described it in his post:

“I am sitting in a chair talking to my dad about what I have done with my life. He is happier than usual and very interested. In the distance I hear a young person calling for him. He gets up, walks out of the room, and returns a minute later with me as a child and box of legos. Young me approaches me, my dad shoos child me away, young me goes and plays with legos.”

At that point in the dream, he and his father had a very curious conversation. They spoke about the “danger of the butterfly effect,” and how the simple act of them speaking together at that moment could change everything.

He later had two more dreams, in which he saw himself “from perspectives of mysterious forgotten people and situations.” In each dream, he spoke with his father about time travel, his future, and consequences.

To Travel In Dreams

He would later ask his father about the strange dream, if it meant anything. Apparently, he didn’t remember, and had nothing to add — or maybe he was just protecting the space-time continuum. He shared this in a follow-up post five months later :

“…we could theorize that if I am a time traveler in my dreams and he is protecting me from myself, he would probably not tell me how to foil him.”

Of course, you could chalk the entire experience up to false memories, simple dreams, or something more ordinary. But it’s much more fascinating to consider the alternatives.

I, myself, have had a handful of lucid dreams . The one constant, for me, is that they’re always very difficult to move around in. Something like being underwater, and when it happens I find myself struggling to stay in the dreamworld, to not break the illusion so I can explore a bit. Never lasts for long.

At any rate, some believe that dreaming about time travel may indicate some kind of “wish-fulfillment,” a desire to relive the past. But who knows; perhaps there’s something more to our nightly dreamscapes than meets the inner eye.

Have you experienced any strange dreams, lately?

Rob Schwarz

Related articles.

5 Common Nightmares and Their Possible Meanings

4 Weird “Clues” That Parallel Universes Exist

Author Dreams Of Another Life While In Coma

Lucid Dreaming and the World Within Your Mind

Advertisement

Dreaming about traveling here's what it means, according to experts.

When it comes to dream interpretation, so much of it depends on the context and finer details of the dream. To dream about traveling is no exception, with a myriad of variations that can change the meaning of the dream . So, we asked experts about a few of their top interpretations for travel dreams—here's what they had to say.

Dream interpretation.

Before diving in, it's worth noting that any scientific validity to dream interpretation is sparse. Generally, dreams are thought of as a means of memory consolidation and potentially even "predicting" the future (i.e., our brains running through potential scenarios that could happen).

Nevertheless, we've all had dreams that seemed a bit too relevant to our waking lives, raising the question, What was that dream trying to tell me? Only you can truly understand what the symbols in your dreams mean to you, but there are still some common tropes in dreams that interpreters take to have specific meanings.

7 reasons you're dreaming about traveling:

You're craving freedom..

According to dream expert  Leslie Ellis, Ph.D., dreaming about travel can indicate that you're on a quest for freedom. "In this pandemic era where travel has been so restricted, travel dreams could be some form of vicarious way of gaining freedom of movement," she says, adding, "Freud was not entirely wrong about dreams being a form of wish fulfillment, at least some of the time."

You're experiencing some kind of movement in your life.

Along with a craving for freedom, travel dreams can also suggest there's some sort of movement or momentum happening in your life. "Traveling usually represents forward movement—progress in some area," notes professional dream interpreter  Lauri Loewenberg . And as Ellis adds, this "movement" could be personal or professional, as well as actual geographical movement.

You feel in control.

If you're traveling in a vehicle in your dream and it's running smoothly, Loewenberg tells mbg that can mean you feel in control of some aspect of your life. "You want to be driving the car, for example, because that's letting you know that whatever issue this dream is commenting on, you're in control of it," she explains.

You feel out of control.

On the other hand, Loewenberg says, if the car is having some hiccups, such as malfunctioning brakes, "that's a good indication that you're having a hard time getting something started in your real life, or you don't have a good handle on whatever path of progression this is connected to."

She adds that if you're driving a car in your dream and get into an accident, this can mean you're experiencing a sort of emotional or energy crash in your life.

You're experiencing some sort of ending.

Crashes or accidents in travel dreams can also mean something is on the verge of coming to an end in your life (or already has), Loewenberg notes.

The theme of endings existing within travel dreams can also relate to life stages and death, Ellis explains. "They can, at the far end of the journey, indicate preparation for death. There are many accounts of dreams easing people into the final stages of their life , preparing them in ways that tend to be calming and spiritual," she notes.

You're advancing in your career (or thinking about it).

According to Loewenberg, dreams about traveling in a plane , more often than not, are related to your career path, "because the plane takes off and we want our careers to take off and reach new levels." Planes can also represent your spiritual or religious path , she adds.

You're searching for something.

And lastly, depending on your destination, travel dreams can mean you're looking for something in your life. "If your destination is a beach, for example, that means you're trying to reach a place in your life where you are having peace of mind," Loewenberg explains. Or maybe you're traveling to a hospital, which would indicate you're on a healing path, she adds.

Interpretations based on travel companions:

Family members..

With the previous interpretations in mind, it's also important to consider who's accompanying you in the dream. In the case of family members, Ellis says, this could relate to feeling of moving on, or moving forward, as it relates to the family members in the dream.

A romantic partner.

Loewenberg says dreaming about traveling with a partner can offer good insight into how the relationship is going and how you both are reacting within the relationship. "Pay attention to who's behind the wheel and how well the vehicle is moving forward," she suggests, for example.

If you're on a boat, she adds they often represent our relationships. (Relation-"ship," get it?) "A ship or a boat will be commenting on a relationship more than any other vehicle because it travels on water, and water tends to represent the emotional self," Loewenberg explains.

In that case, are you on an extravagant cruise liner that's sailing smoothly? Or are you in a broken-down boat that's sinking fast ? You can guess which one indicates a relationship is heading south.

Co-workers.

If you're dreaming about work colleagues, Ellis says this situates the dream story in the world of work. "Again, it can be telling to look at the mode of travel, ease of transport, and nature of the destination," she notes. Ask yourself if you're getting to where you want to go. "This can be a big life question. Are the people you are with helping or hindering your progress?" Ellis adds.

Traveling solo.

Of course, there's a chance you'll be traveling solo in your dream, as well. Loewenberg says a common vehicle in travel dreams is a bike or motorcycle, which are, of course, single-passenger vehicles. This would be a dream about a path you are on alone that doesn't affect anyone else, she explains.

"You also have to have good balance to operate a bicycle or a motorcycle, so take a good look at your emotional balance or anything you're trying to balance in your life," Ellis adds.

The bottom line.

Dreaming about travel isn't uncommon—and interpreting these dreams always comes down to their context. With these potential interpretations at the ready, you're all set to open your mind to the world of your travel dreams—and consider how they relate to your reality.

Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes

What Is Meditation?

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Light Watkins

Box Breathing

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar

What Breathwork Can Address

The 8 limbs of yoga - what is asana.

Yoga | Caley Alyssa

Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips

How plants can optimize athletic performance.

Nutrition | Rich Roll

What to Eat Before a Workout

How ayurveda helps us navigate modern life.

Nutrition | Sahara Rose

Messages About Love & Relationships

Love & Relationships | Esther Perel

Love Languages

More on this topic.

How To Manage Stress When Money Has You Overwhelmed (Hey, Taxes!)

Sheryl Nance-Nash

This Astrological Sign Is The Rarest Of Them All — Is It Yours?

Sarah Regan

This Week Brings A Rare Opportunity For A Lucky Break—Here's Your Horoscope

The AstroTwins

This Is The Only Guide To Full Moon Rituals You'll Ever Need

The Program Helping Thousands Find Their Purpose & Define Their Goals

Jennifer Grace

How Spirituality Rewires Our Brain & Why It's So Needed Right Now, From A PhD

Lisa Miller, Ph.D.

This Crystal Isn't Just For Facial Rollers—Here's How To Use It

A Scorpio Full Moon Is On The Horizon—Here's What Your Sign Needs To Know

These Self-Love Affirmations Are Just The Boost You're Looking For

Popular Stories

• Subscribe to BBC Science Focus Magazine
• Previous Issues
• Future tech
• Everyday science
• Planet Earth
• Newsletters

How does time change when we dream?

With the help of lucid dreamers, scientists have examined how our brains interpret time during shuteye.

Alice Gregory

As many of us know, dreams can feel like they span several days or occur in slow-motion. And they can also be perceived to take place in real-time.

Although difficult to analyse time-perception inpeople’sdreams, promising research has emerged when studying lucid dreamers. These are people who are aware they are dreamingwhiledreaming – and can consciously influence the dream content.

For instance, in a study by scientists based in Switzerland and Germany, the time taken to perform pre-arranged tasks when awake and when dreaming lucidly was compared.The participants moved their eyes left-right-left-right to indicate the start and end of a task.

Motor tasks, such as performing squats, took significantly longer when dreaming as compared to when awake (although non-significant differences were found for a non-motor counting task). The authors hypothesised that this could be due to a lack of feedback from muscles when a motor task takes place whiledreaming. A difference in neural processing speed when dreaming as compared to when awake was also given as a possible explanation.

Some people wonder why their dreams appear to take place just prior to waking. One possible explanation is that we need to wake up to remember our dreams, which means that those taking place earlier in the nightare less likely to be recalled. Dreams are most likely to occur during Rapid Eye Movement sleep, which is more abundant asthe night progresses and towards our wakingtime, providing a further explanation.

Asked by: Charlotte Hewes, Aylesbury

• Why do we sleep?
• Why does time go so fast when you’re asleep?
• Why does time speed up when you get older?
• Is time real or an illusion?

To submit your questions email us at [email protected] (don't forget to include your name and location)

Share this article

• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy policy
• Cookies policy
• Code of conduct
• Magazine subscriptions
• Manage preferences

Our advice is expert-vetted and based on independent research, analysis and hands-on testing from our team of Certified Sleep Coaches. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement

What Do Your Dreams Mean? Sleep Experts Reveal Common Interpretations

Our weird and wacky dreams can be open to interpretation, but they might actually mean something. Here are common dream themes explained by sleep experts.

Turns out, that dream where you fall from the sky and jerk yourself awake is pretty common.

Given the extensive list of health reasons humans need rest, it's easy to understand why we close our eyes and go to sleep every night. But it's much more difficult to explain what happens as we drift off into dreamland. Why do we dream? How do we interpret those dreams, especially if they're bizarre or terrifying ?

Dreams are common. In fact, you have one to six dreams a night, the strongest ones happening during REM sleep . Nobody remembers all the dreams they have, and if you've ever woken from a particularly unsettling or offbeat dream, you may wonder why you're having it in the first place. You can start dissecting what your dreams mean with the help of three sleep experts we interviewed. 

Here's what to know about your dreams, what they mean and why you have them. 

What are dreams? 

Simply put, "Dreams are thoughts, images, sensations and sometimes sounds that occur during sleep," Alan Kuras , a licensed clinical social worker at Westmed Medical Group , tells CNET. 

There's no definitive evidence about what dreams consist of, but it's generally accepted that dreams represent a collection of thoughts, struggles, emotions, events, people, places and symbols that are relevant to the dreamer in some way. 

The most vivid dreams typically occur during REM sleep , though you can dream during other stages of sleep. 

Why do I dream? 

Dreams may serve multiple purposes, including memory formation. 

Kuras says there are many theories about the function of dreams. "They appear to assist in memory formation, integration, problem-solving and consolidation of ideas both about ourselves and the world," he says, adding that neuroscientists have discovered that dreams help with information processing and mood regulation, too.

While scientists know a great deal about what happens physiologically when people dream , there's still much to learn about what happens psychologically. For example, researchers know that people with post-traumatic stress disorder are likely to have nightmares . But people without PTSD have nightmares, too, so it can't be said that nightmares always accompany psychological conditions. 

One generally accepted concept is that  dreaming is a highly emotional process  because the amygdala (an emotional center in your brain) is one of the areas most active during dreams,  according to neuroimaging studies . 

Why can't I remember my dreams?

If you're one of those people who "doesn't dream," you probably just forget them. 

Part of this is biological, Kuras says, as neurotransmitters that form memories are less active during sleep. Dream forgetfulness also appears to be related to the level of electrical activity in the brain during dreams.

Additionally, it could have something to do with the content of your dreams. Early psychoanalytic theory suggested that difficult or traumatic information in dreams is suppressed, and the dreamer is less likely to retrieve or analyze it.

Dr. Meir Kryger, a sleep medicine doctor at Yale Medicine , tells CNET that most people remember their dreams when they're awakened in the middle of a dream or in the first few moments after a dream has ended. But the catch is that the memory only lasts for a short time. Unless you write it down or replay it in your head over and over, there's a good chance you'll forget the dream. It's more common to forget our dreams than it is to remember them, Kryger says. 

When you wake up also matters. Research has shown that people who wake up during REM sleep report more vivid, detailed dreams, whereas people who wake up during non-REM sleep report fewer dreams, no dreams or dreams of little significance. 

What does my dream mean? 

Dream meanings are mostly speculation, but what matters is how your dreams relate to your own life. 

Different cultures throughout history have ascribed meaning and importance to dreams, though there's little scientific evidence that dreams have particular meanings attached to them, Kuras says. "No one has yet determined with exactitude what dreams or the images in dreams mean. That dreams are significant indicators of one's subconscious mind is a basic assumption in various cultures, but in different ways."

Kryger says dreams are "mostly speculation in terms of specific meanings." He continues that there are two main trains of thought in the scientific community: One is that every part of a dream has a specific meaning, and the other is that dreams are entirely spontaneous and mean nothing.

The first train of thought can be attributed to Sigmund Freud , who is recognized as the first person to assign definitive meanings to dreams -- like that dreaming about a king and a queen actually means you're dreaming about your mother and father, Kryger says. 

Although dream psychoanalysis may have only begun in the last century or two, people have studied dreams for far longer: Aristotle wrote about dreams as early as 325 B.C., according to Kryger.

Lauri Quinn Loewenberg, a professional dream analyst, says the problem with arriving at proof across the board "is that dreams and their meanings are so very personal because they are based on the person's individual life experiences." 

Additionally, neuroscience tends to focus on the function of dreaming (like memory retention) rather than the "comparative analysis between the imagery in dreams and the content of the previous day, which is how I approach dream analysis," Loewenberg says. 

That said, certain dreams do have meanings attached to them, if for no reason other than holding significance for many people. Below, Kryger, Kuras and Loewenberg discuss the potential meanings of common dreams and symbols in dreams.

What does it mean when you dream about water, wind or fire? 

Dreaming about water, wind or fire may offer some insight into your emotions.

Though there's no concrete evidence that the elements have particular meanings (it's mostly speculation, Kryger says), some associations seem common. 

Water is thought to symbolize emotions, Loewenberg says, and different types of water can mimic different emotions. For instance, muddy water can represent sadness, tidal waves can represent overwhelm and clear water can represent emotional clarity. 

Fire most often equates to anger or distress, Loewenberg says, while wind can represent imminent changes or changes that you're currently going through. 

"As far as these being accepted meanings, all that truly matters is what fits for the dreamer," Loewenberg says. While many symbols have a general meaning that can fit most people and common situations, you have to account for your personal associations with symbols, she explains. 

What does it mean when you dream about death? 

It's actually very common to dream about death.

Kryger says it's very common to dream about death, particularly about the death of someone close to you emotionally. It's also common to interpret those types of dreams as communication from the dead, which isn't really a surprise: "Death has such a great impact on the living that it is often incorporated into dream content," he says. 

Loewenberg says dreaming about death can signify the end of something in real life, and that doesn't necessarily mean the end of a life. 

"To dream of your own death isn't a premonition but rather a reflection of how you are coming to realize that life as you now know it is coming to an end," she says, adding that it's not unusual to dream about death during things like moving, the process of quitting smoking or making a career change. 

According to Kuras, "This all depends on what these images mean to the dreamer in the context of their life and challenges. Dream work is very much the exploration of feelings and meaning for the dreamer and is somehow related to the 'work' of managing life and its challenges."

What does it mean when dreams are set at nighttime vs. daytime? 

Dreaming in dark settings, like this one, may indicate sadness or loneliness.

Like the elements, there's no scientific proof that darkness and light have set meanings, but many dreamers associate each with a particular feeling, Loewenberg says. For example, dreams that take place in the dark can represent uncertainty in real life -- such as if you are "in the dark" about something going on and need more information to make a decision. Darkness has also been associated with sadness or loneliness.

Dreams that take place in the daytime, on the other hand, may not mean anything for most people. But if you typically dream in dark settings and suddenly have dreams set in the daytime, it could signify that an issue was resolved or that you've come out of a period of sadness. 

Again, dream interpretation is almost entirely speculation, and what's important is how you relate your dreams to your own life. 

Why some dreams are common

Dreaming about flying is pretty common.

Have you ever dreamt that you were falling and jerked awake? If you've ever discussed said dream with other people, there's a good chance someone else chimed in saying, "I've had that dream, too!" Dreaming of falling seems to be pretty common, and it's something called an archetype, Loewnberg says. 

An archetype, by definition, is "a very typical example of a certain person or thing" (Oxford); when applied to dreams, an archetype is something that signifies " patterns of the psyche ." 

Other common dreams, which may or may not be archetypes depending on what's happening in your life at the time you have the dream, include: 

• Showing up late for something important
• Being chased by someone or something
• Dreams about sexual relations that shouldn't happen in real life (such as you or your partner engaging in relations with someone else)
• Encountering someone who has died
• Being paralyzed or unable to speak
• Being naked or embarrassed in front of a crowd

Loewenberg says these dreams are so common because they're connected to common behaviors, actions, thoughts and fears. For example, many (if not most) people worry about arriving late for something important, such as a work presentation or a plane flight. Likewise, many people may worry about their partner having an affair, which can show up in dreams. 

Having dreams where you appear naked or embarrassed in front of a crowd is often related to social anxiety, Loewenberg says, or worrying about how others perceive you. 

How to interpret your dreams

Some dreams are straight-up weird, and it's up to you to interpret them.

Since, as mentioned before, there's no solid body of evidence about the meanings of dreams, you have to interpret your dreams in ways that make sense to you. 

"The determination of what dreams convey are particular to the person and current situation," Kuras says, "so what the person is experiencing, what challenges they are facing, and what psychological developments are occurring will inform meaning in each case."

Dreaming is a thinking process, Loewnberg reiterates. "Our dreams, those strange little stories we experience every night while we sleep, are actually our subconscious thoughts," she says. "They are a continuation of our stream of consciousness from the day." 

But during sleep, instead of talking to yourself in words, you are talking to yourself in symbols, metaphors and emotions, Loewenberg says. The change in language happens because your brain works differently during REM sleep: Notably, the prefrontal cortex, or decision-making center of your brain, is less active or inactive, while the amygdala, the emotional center of your brain, is highly active. 

That's why dreams can be so frightening or frustrating and feature events that shouldn't or couldn't happen in real life. 

"In a nutshell," Loewenberg says, "dreams are a conversation with the self about the self, but on a much deeper, subconscious level."

Learn more to sleep well every night

• What's the Best Sleep Position for Deep Rest? It Depends
• 7 Foods to Eat for Better Sleep
• How to Fall Asleep in 10 Minutes or Less
• Tips to Sleep Cool Even When It's Hot Outside
• Circadian Rhythm: How to Regulate It and Why It's the Key to Good Sleep
• These Habits Are Wrecking Your Sleep Schedule
• Yes, Your Mattress and Pillows Could Be Sabotaging Your Sleep

Mattress Buying Guides

• Best Mattress
• Best Air Mattress
• Best Adjustable Mattress
• Best Mattress in a Box
• Best Memory Foam Mattress
• Best Mattress for Side Sleepers
• Best Mattress for Stomach Sleepers
• Best Mattress for Back Pain
• Best Mattress for Heavy People
• Best Mattress for Kids
• Best Cooling Mattress
• Best Cheap Mattress
• Best Firm Mattress
• Best Soft Mattress
• Best King Mattress
• Purple Mattress
• Dreamcloud Mattress
• Nectar Mattress
• Casper Mattress
• TempurPedic Mattress
• Saatva Mattress
• Tuft & Needle Mattress
• Helix Mattress
• Avocado Mattress

Other Sleep Guides

• Best Pillow
• Best Weighted Blanket
• Best Sleep Mask
• Best Sheets
• Best Mattress Toppers
• Best Mattress Pads
• Best Headphones for Sleeping
• Best Alarm Clock
• Best Earplugs for Sleeping
• Best White Noise Machines
• Best Products for Snoring

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

Being back in the beach house that witnessed much of my 20s feels strange and wondrous – like a sort of time travel

I run from room to room, touching things as if they’ll somehow transport me to the past. Not much has changed in the old weatherboard

• Get our morning and afternoon news emails , free app or daily news podcast

M any years ago, a friend from university invited some of us to his mum’s beach house at Walkerville South. His mum had bought the house super cheap before the world had discovered that there was another impressive coastline in Victoria, far away from the more established houses of the Mornington Peninsula or the Great Ocean Road.

The house was a weatherboard shack hidden in thick native bush. There were two bedrooms, and a large corner couch in the lounge that doubled as two extra beds when needed. Fronted by large windows, you could spy the ocean through the tall trees while standing in the kitchen and waiting for the kettle to boil. It was a house that didn’t need too much attention. From the straw matting on the floor to the green bathroom straight out of the 1970s, it was immediately welcoming, and once you arrived, you didn’t want to leave.

On that first visit, I slept on one of the couch-beds, preferring to keep the curtains open so I could see the darkness of the sky. And in the morning, I woke to a row of noisy rosellas hanging out on the edge of the deck, waiting for birdseed. We swam even in the height of winter, running into the cold, foamy water and lasting only minutes before tiptoeing with bare feet back up the hill to the waiting fire. We drank too much cheap red wine, ate simple meals of beans and rice, and laughed late into the night. It was one of those bonding weekends that was so joyful, it was repeated more than once.

After we left university and scattered in different directions, I still borrowed the house from time to time, introducing it to other friends, including the man who would one day become my partner. After he and I started going out, we visited just the two of us, and I remember mocking him for pulling on a wetsuit before wading into the sea. The house witnessed much of my 20s, those lost years when none of us knew what we were going to do with the rest of our lives, and coming together somehow made us feel safe.

Sign up for a weekly email featuring our best reads

And then my university friend married his partner and moved to another state, and we lost contact. I stopped visiting the house because he wasn’t around to lend me the keys. But years later, each time I read Alison Lester’s wonderful Magic Beach to my children, I would be transported back to the wilds of Walkerville South, a place that had become almost mythical in my memory.

Three years ago, as the pandemic restrictions lifted, friends invited the kids and I to visit them on their summer holiday. I’d been to the Gippsland coast often as an adult and knew the roads well, but I hadn’t stayed at Walkerville South since that time. I was surprised to see how little had changed. A gravel road still led the way in, and the hill behind the beach was still dotted with only a handful of houses.

We pulled up outside the place my friends had rented and started unloading the car. As we walked in, I felt a prickle of familiarity. There was a corner couch that doubled as a bed in the lounge, large sliding glass doors out to the deck, and a green kitchen straight out of the 1970s. But it was the coloured Marimekko curtains that hung to the floor, more faded than when I’d last seen them, that did it. I knew immediately that it was the same house.

Excited, I asked who owned the house and my friend told me. I grinned when I heard that my old university friend’s mum still owned it. They didn’t know her well, but she was a friend of a friend and she still rented out the place to people sometimes. Now in her 90s, she didn’t visit it herself very often any more.

after newsletter promotion

I ran from room to room checking the fittings to see if they were the same, touching things as if they’d somehow transport me back to the past. I gripped the same green ball handles on the bathroom door. Ran my fingers along the same boxed-up board games stacked in the shelves in the lounge. And bent down to rub the fur back of the large grey, stuffed wombat that sat waiting near the fireplace, a little more loved looking than it had been all those years before.

Not much had changed in the old weatherboard. It held such stories in its walls. And now I was back, and it felt strange and wondrous like a sort of time travel. I stood on the deck, knowing the rosellas would soon land, and remembered a time when I was younger, freer, less worried about what was coming. When sleeping on a couch in the corner of a room was fought over, and when swimming in the winter sea was a given.

Nova Weetman is an award-winning children’s author. Her adult memoir, Love, Death & Other Scenes , is out in April 2024 from UQP

• Beach holidays
• Australian lifestyle

Most viewed

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

• LISTEN & FOLLOW
• Apple Podcasts
• Google Podcasts
• Amazon Music

Your support helps make our show possible and unlocks access to our sponsor-free feed.

How to plan your dream vacation

Sometimes you crave a vacation — but actually taking one feels out of reach. Maybe you're struggling to find the time or save up the money. Or maybe you just can't seem to launch those plans out of the group chat. Overcome that planning inertia and take the big trip of your dreams. Here's where to start your search, organize your logistics and enjoy yourself.

MARIELLE SEGARRA, HOST:

You're listening to LIFE KIT...

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

SEGARRA: ...From NPR.

Hey, everybody. It's Marielle. You remember the early part of the pandemic when the days of isolation stretched into months? At night, I would lay on the floor of my apartment with my eyes closed and listen to guided meditations, to try to take myself to a happier place. One time the prompt was something like, picture yourself doing something that brings you great joy. The first thing that popped into my head was an image of me wandering the cobblestone streets of some small European village, probably in France. The sun was shining, and every step I took was a feast for the eyes. Medieval houses, colorful flowers resting in vases on outdoor tables, patisseries with gorgeous pastries in the window, just waiting to be eaten.

I didn't realize until that moment just how much I missed traveling and how badly I wanted to look at something outside of my four walls or the blocks of my neighborhood. The next year, I took a three-week trip to the U.K. and France, and I ate those pastries and wandered until my feet hurt and filled a hole that had been growing inside of me.

Big trips can do that. Lale Arikoglu knows what I'm talking about. She's the articles director at Conde Nast Traveler.

LALE ARIKOGLU: On a really basic level, I think it's just being able to have a break from the crush of regular life, whether that's work or childcare or school, wherever it may be, you know, the opportunity to just take yourself out of your routine and be somewhere else and get to immerse yourself in that place to me is, like, the main draw of it.

SEGARRA: Now, when we talk about a big trip, that could mean different things depending on your travel style and your budget. You know, it might be a long road trip or an extended stay at a cottage in the woods or a multi-city tour on another continent. But it's typically something you save up for and plan months in advance. Lale has a big trip coming up. She's going to Peru.

ARIKOGLU: I've been waiting to do it for a long time. The reason to go there is for a friend's wedding. And now I'm building a trip around it, and it's going to be about ten days long with multi-stops, you know, having to choose multiple places to stay. And logistically, you know, it's actually taking some thought and some planning. One of the things that we're going to do when we're there is hike Machu Picchu. There's a group of us going. And Machu Picchu - it's a dream to see and experience.

SEGARRA: Now, it's easy to get bogged down in trip planning. And it might stop you from booking the thing entirely, but Lale says, do it. It's worth it.

On this episode of LIFE KIT, Lale shares her best tips on planning the big trip of your dreams. We'll talk about where to start your search, what logistical questions you should ask yourself and how to actually relax and enjoy yourself once you're there.

SEGARRA: Let's say I do want to take a big trip, right? I'm feeling that itch to travel, but...

ARIKOGLU: Right.

SEGARRA: ...I don't have a destination in mind yet or a duration. I'm really starting from scratch. Where does the planning start?

ARIKOGLU: When you start the planning, you've really got to think what you want to get out of the trip. You know, If you really just want to decompress and relax and rest, then you probably don't want to do some like multi-stop European city trip, right? You probably don't want to hike Machu Picchu. Perhaps it is that you're incredibly bored of your surroundings, and you need adventure and you need excitement. And therefore, you're going to be thinking of some really different destinations. It might be that you're traveling alone for the first time. You've decided to do a solo trip. You know, where is a place that might feel comfortable for you as a solo traveler, but still feels like it's taking you out of your comfort zone? So I think it's sitting with yourself and thinking, OK, what is, like, the goal here? That's takeaway one. Ask yourself what do you want to get from this? Set the mission of your trip.

It feels like another really important detail at the beginning is budget, right? Like, how much money do you realistically want to spend on this trip or can you afford to spend?

ARIKOGLU: And, you know, that's going to look different for everyone. If we're talking big trips, rarely are they spontaneous, right? You're planning for a long time. So that also allows you to save and finance for it. No, there's lots of great savings apps that can just, you know, that take a little bit of money out of your paycheck every few weeks, and you can kind of start, like, a travel fund that way. I think that's quite a nice way to do it. But I think, you know, you can do a big trip on a budget. It doesn't have to be, I think, a lavish, international trip. I mean, you know, we're going into spring and summer, there are so many incredible national parks to see, there are so many amazing, very diverse, different cities. There's, like, so much on your doorstep, so I think you can really argue, you don't have to cross continents to have a big trip. And so if that feels a more affordable way to get away for a couple of weeks, then, you know, look in your backyard.

SEGARRA: Right. I wonder, too, like, part of budget, besides money, is also time. Like, how much vacation time do you have? Do you have any tips for people who don't have that much vacation time?

ARIKOGLU: So I think if you look at the calendar and you look at where the holiday weekends fall, There are some tricks to being able to kind of, like, turn your limited number of vacation days into - kind of you can stretch it out if you bookend it with a holiday weekend or something like that. But on the flip side, it's also most expensive time to travel, right? There is an argument for choosing shoulder season, so that's not traveling to a destination when it's at its peak. And this is great for your own personal experience, but it's also in terms of helping that destination deal with overtourism, overcrowding. If we're talking about Europe, for example, the summers are getting hotter. So avoiding those really intense, hot, summer seasons can actually be really advantageous for your own travel plans.

SEGARRA: Yeah. That seems like maybe the next thing to consider as you're planning a big trip before you start looking at destinations is what time of year are you looking to travel?

ARIKOGLU: Definitely. And that's more of a luxury for some people because If you're having to navigate school holidays, then you're a little bit more limited. But again, it's sort of when you're thinking about carving out those goals and what you want to get out of the trip. Maybe it's the seasonality that's really important. Maybe it's all you want is hot weather and a beach. You know, if you're planning some summer travel, you could totally flip things on its head and go experience winter somewhere. I went to Patagonia when it was entering into their fall in Chile, and it was a really magnificent time to be there, and it was when New York City was going into spring. It felt like upside-down land to be choosing to do that, and it was so wonderful. It was great.

SEGARRA: Yeah. I think there's a lot of room for creativity there. And also, as you said, like, it opens up more possibilities if you consider going places during the shoulder season.

ARIKOGLU: And you get to be in a place and actually be in the place with the people who live there. One thing in August, if you go to Europe, everyone who lives there has, you know, gone off somewhere else on vacation to escape the heat and the tourists, and so, you know, you're in Rome with just all the other tourists and none of the Romans.

SEGARRA: All right, so takeaway two. Before you land on a destination, think about your constraints. What time of year do you plan to travel? For how long? What budget are you working with? If you're short on time, you can make use of holidays or pick a destination closer to home. If you're short on money, think creatively. You know, maybe you do a road trip through some parks or cities nearby.

SEGARRA: It seems like another thing to consider here is, how much do you like crowds? Because for me, it kind of ruins a trip or an experience if everywhere I go is super crowded. I get very overwhelmed by that and overstimulated.

ARIKOGLU: And it's also, you know, who are the crowds? Because there's been times when I've gone somewhere and I've gone and done the same bucket list site that everyone else is, and you're sort of standing there and you're thinking, What am I actually here for? Well, what is the purpose of this? What am I getting out of it? What am I giving to this destination other than just being another member of the crowd?

SEGARRA: Yeah. I think that's an important question, right? 'Cause, like, we have been talking about what are you looking to get out of it, for the most part. But there's another side to this - right? - and it's what am I giving? And also, what am I taking? Like, am I taking too much from this place?

ARIKOGLU: I think about that a lot. When you're planning, be really thoughtful about where you're spending your money. When you're choosing a hotel, is it a hotel that is locally owned? What restaurants are you booking? Where are you shopping? Where are you buying your souvenirs? You know, I think there's lots of ways to be really thoughtful about, you know, how you spend your money, and that can go into your budgeting, as well.

SEGARRA: I know there are certain places that at a certain time, at least, they said, please, tourists, like, please stop coming or stop coming during this time.

ARIKOGLU: Yeah. When a destination says that, I mean, it's something to be taken so seriously because they're usually destinations that have an infrastructure or an economy that really relies on tourism. So things have to have gotten pretty bad for a destination to say, take a beat, not right now, and listen to that, and, you know, the place will be better for it when you do go see it.

SEGARRA: I picture it as if you were, like, going to - going over, like, a friend's house uninvited, or, like, if they were like, please, today's not good. Like, our whole family's sick, like, we're all throwing up, and then you were still banging on the door, like, hey, what are you doing? Can I come stay over?

ARIKOGLU: I think that is a perfect analogy. Perfect. And no one wants to be that person.

SEGARRA: No.

ARIKOGLU: I'd hate to be that person.

SEGARRA: That'd be weird behavior.

ARIKOGLU: Yeah.

SEGARRA: Takeaway three, travel responsibly. Research the places you're interested in, and make sure they want tourists at the time you're looking to visit. When you're booking, consider putting your money toward the local economy rather than international chains. Also, learn about whatever destination you choose. Be open to the cultural practices and languages there. And be a respectful visitor.

Anything else that people would want to figure out before they start narrowing down or looking at destinations?

ARIKOGLU: I think it's also thinking about who you want to travel with. Someone can be your best friend, but they can be your worst roommate. I think travel's kind of the same, so kind of finding someone to travel with or a group of people to travel with who you're aligned with in the planning stage, rather than when you get there and then you suddenly discover you all want to do different things. So I think communicating right off the back what you all want out of the trip and what you're excited about and also being really honest with each other about finances.

If you're on a group trip, I mean, it's like splitting the bill, but a thousand times worse. And so I think if you can kind of, like, set some parameters at the start and be really honest about what you feel comfortable spending money on because inevitably, there is going to be some people on the trip who want to spend more money on some things than others.

SEGARRA: Yeah. And it seems like that conversation, there should be some form of that before you book anything.

ARIKOGLU: Yes, 100%. And, you know, I think even if you don't feel comfortable doing it, speaking up if something just feels too expensive.

SEGARRA: All right. So takeaway four, figure out who you're traveling with. You might prefer to travel alone, or if you're going with friends, partners, or family, just make sure you're on the same page about what you want from the trip - the pace, the activities and how much money you can spend.

SEGARRA: OK. So it sounds like we've given people a lot of things to consider before they choose a destination. Once they've done this soul searching, how can they start to find destinations that fit those desires and limitations?

ARIKOGLU: For me, part of the fun of travel planning is doing the research, whether it is a trusted travel publication or reading some books you love or going on to - you know, there's, like, a ton of just, like, online communities of people who love swapping travel tips and actually, I think, can be really helpful.

SEGARRA: Yeah. I think it can be helpful maybe to in the brainstorming stage to just, like, not go in too deep but just make a list of places that seem exciting to you and that might fit your parameters. Like, I have a Google Doc, and it's just, like, places that I would be really excited to go.

SEGARRA: When you are considering a destination, how helpful is social media - is - like, seeing where your friends are going or where influencers are going? Is it a good idea to follow those trends?

ARIKOGLU: I think it can be useful in picking things you want to do once you're there, particularly if it's, like, based around, like, big events or openings. You know, we have our best places to go list that runs every year. It could be, like, new train routes, new hiking routes, new museums that have opened, things that are happening in destinations centered around an anniversary. So, you know, kind of consulting those sorts of lists and rounds up as well can be very helpful. But I think, you know, going back to what we were talking about in terms of over tourism or overcrowding - you know, on social media, you will see people at the same spots time and time again. And they're usually spots where just around the corner, there's also something equally beautiful to see.

SEGARRA: Yeah. Like, I remember when Santorini was really popular. And it's like, whew - like, if you could actually see what was going on behind that photo, like, you would hate being there because it's so - it's just way too many people...

ARIKOGLU: Right. Right.

SEGARRA: ...All lining up to take a picture in - against that beautiful backdrop.

ARIKOGLU: Exactly. And, you know, it's Santorini. It's all beautiful. It's all amazing.

SEGARRA: OK. So takeaway five is to choose a destination. And cast a wide net when you're brainstorming 'cause you never know what's going to catch your eye. Also, Lale says, do your best to think outside of the current travel trends. Though you can use them for inspiration.

So once you've got a destination in mind, how can you start to sketch out the details of the trip? And I guess I should say, how much detail do you really need to figure out?

ARIKOGLU: So I was going to say, don't overschedule yourself, and don't overbook yourself. I think I've been guilty of doing that before, and then you realize that you have no downtime. It might seem like you're being really efficient, but you need a little bit of spontaneity on your trip. Don't overschedule. If there are a few key things you really want to do that you feel you will be crushed if you don't get to do it, then book it. Make sure that's arranged all in advance. So maybe it's finding one thing on each day of your trip. That's what you center your day around and you can frame your itinerary around that, but I wouldn't overschedule.

SEGARRA: Yeah. And then I think when you look at these things potentially sketched out on different days, then you say like, you know, that seems too busy. What's the most important to me here? Like, which of these activities do I want to book ahead?

ARIKOGLU: Right. You know, if you're suddenly realizing - you're like, I am cramming a lot in if I try to go to these three places, then choosing which one to let go.

SEGARRA: Yeah. 'Cause that's always a consideration, too. Like, if you're flying somewhere far, you might think, well, I'm already going to Poland, should I also do Germany?

SEGARRA: There's that impulse, you know? Or I'm going to Poland, so I want to see all of Poland. But that can make for a very frenetic kind of trip.

ARIKOGLU: And you wouldn't tell someone who was visiting America to be like, well, you've come all the way to America, so if you're going to New York, then you also need to go to New Orleans.

SEGARRA: Right, right. Exactly. That's Takeaway 6 - keep your schedule light and malleable. Lally recommends picking only one activity to do for each day of your trip and then building a flexible itinerary around those.

You know, it occurs to me that another element of a big trip when I'm going into them - I know that something's going to go awry during it.

ARIKOGLU: Always (laughter).

SEGARRA: Yeah.

SEGARRA: I remember being in Barcelona when I was in college. I went by myself for, like, a week. And I speak Spanish, but it wasn't fluent at the time. And I just got - I just missed being able to easily say what I wanted to say, and I went into, like, a Wendy's or something because I just wanted something kind of American. And I got some chicken nuggets. I couldn't think how to say nuggets in Spanish. Like, I was like, is that even a word, like, in Spanish, or did they just say nuggets? And I just broke and started speaking in English because I was trying to only speak Spanish. And I was like, I give up. Like, can I get some chicken nuggets, please?

ARIKOGLU: The true American in you comes out screaming at chicken nuggets in a foreign McDonald's.

SEGARRA: Yeah, yeah, give me my nuggies.

ARIKOGLU: (Laughter).

SEGARRA: Yeah, I just - like, sometimes you just need to go roll up into a ball and eat your chicken nuggies and be by yourself for a minute and then come back out, you know?

ARIKOGLU: Yeah. I mean, like, travel so much of the time is sort of, like, infantilizing because you're so powerless. But it's, like, the same in an airport. You're just sort of powerless at a certain extent when things go wrong. And I think my approach to it - to sort of very taxing and challenging air travel schedules, with connections and potential miss flights and lost luggage and all the things that come with that - is to sort of just give myself up to the airport gods, and just as soon as I'm, like, through TSA, just be like, what will be will be. I'll get there eventually and just, like, I'm powerless. And that's been, like, for me, quite liberating. And it also means that I'm not the person screaming at some poor gate agent when things go wrong.

SEGARRA: Yeah, it's a moment of - it's actually an opportunity for mindfulness. Like, I think that could even be helpful going into a big trip, to tell yourself, like, something is going to go wrong. Yeah, just keep that in mind.

ARIKOGLU: Oh, my God, so much of travel is about being tired and hungry.

SEGARRA: We're really selling this.

ARIKOGLU: I know.

SEGARRA: (Laughter).

ARIKOGLU: I'm like, my whole job is to travel. It's great.

SEGARRA: Isn't it terrible? Yeah.

SEGARRA: I try to remind myself, like - what is the point? - like, go back to those goals. What is the point of this? It's to have a good experience, to meet those needs, to give myself what I've been craving.

ARIKOGLU: Exactly. And I don't know. This sounds a little cheesy and a little trite, but anyone who gets to travel is really lucky. Ultimately, it's a real privilege that you get to do it. And it's such a freedom and it's such a special thing.Don't make it stressful.

SEGARRA: That's our final takeaway. Something on your trip is bound to go wrong. So once you're there, sit back and try to surrender. After all, traveling in the first place is a treat.

SEGARRA: OK, jet-setters, time for a recap. First, figure out what you want from this vacation. Decide your budget and time constraints. Commit to traveling ethically. Make sure you're aligned with the people you're traveling with. When you choose a destination, cast a wide net and have fun with the research. Don't overschedule yourself, and once you're there, relax and roll with the punches. For more LIFE KIT, check out our other episodes. We've got one on how to find cheap flights and another on how to pack your suitcase like a pro. You can find those at np.org/lifekit. And if you love LIFE KIT and you just cannot get enough, subscribe to our newsletter at np.org/lifekitnewsletter. Also, we love hearing from you, so if you have episode ideas or feedback you want to share, e-mail us at [email protected].

This episode of LIFE KIT was produced by Margaret Cirino. Our visuals editor is Beck Harlan and our digital editor is Malaka Gharib. Meghan Keane is our supervising editor and Beth Donovan is our executive producer. Our production team also includes Andee Tagle, Clare Marie Schneider and Sylvie Douglis. Engineering support comes from Robert Rodriguez. I'm Marielle Segarra. Thanks for listening.

Copyright © 2024 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

• Side Hustles
• Power Players
• Young Success
• Save and Invest
• Become Debt-Free
• Land the Job
• Closing the Gap
• Science of Success
• Pop Culture and Media
• Psychology and Relationships
• Health and Wellness
• Real Estate
• Most Popular

Related Stories

• Food, Travel and Tech This airline launched a mystery   flight—over 1,000 people signed up
• Earn You might have extra time to file your   tax return—here's who qualifies
• Earn Tax pro shares how to do your taxes and   why they don't teach you in school
• Food, Travel and Tech Italy launched a new digital   nomad visa: How to apply
• Earn You could 'owe huge taxes' next year if you   don't make this update, says CFP

REAL ID requirements are coming next year—here's what U.S. fliers need to know

Domestic fliers have one year left to get REAL ID-compliant documentation before the Department of Homeland Security's new policies go into effect.

Beginning on May 7, 2025, travelers won't be able to board a domestic flight, access certain federal facilities or enter a nuclear power plant unless their driver's license or ID has REAL ID's telltale star marking in the top righthand corner.

The REAL ID Act was introduced in 2005 in an effort to tighten the nation's air travel security in the wake of the September 11 attacks.

The deadline for REAL ID compliance has been repeatedly delayed since its original 2008 deadline. It was most recently pushed back at the end of 2022, with the DHS citing "the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic" as part of the reason for the change.

Once the REAL ID requirement goes into effect, travelers will no longer be able to board domestic flights with an ordinary license.

Travelers who go to the airport after May 7, 2025 without a REAL ID-compliant license will not be able to get past security, the DHS website says. They will, however, be able to board commercial aircraft by showing a valid passport.

Here's what you need to know to be prepared for the switch in 2025.

When do I need my REAL ID?

The DHS deadline is May 7, 2025.

What happens if I don't get REAL ID in time?

Failure to produce a REAL ID-compliant identification at airport security will result in you not being let through to your gate.

If you don't have REAL ID by May 7, 2025 you can still show your U.S. passport or an Enhanced Driver's License issued by Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, New York or Vermont.

For a full list of alternative ID accepted by TSA, visit this link .

How do I sign up for REAL ID?

You can sign up for REAL ID at your local DMV. The DHS includes a helpful map on its website with links to the DMV for every U.S. state and territory where you can set up an appointment.

Each state's driver's licensing agency lists the documentation you will need to bring in order to get a REAL ID. The DHS website states that applicants must bring documentation showing the following:

• Full legal name
• Date of birth
• Two documents bearing your address
• Lawful status

Do I already have REAL ID? How do I know?

To see if your current ID is REAL ID-compliant, check the top right corner. Depending on which state issues your ID, the REAL ID marking will show up in the form of a yellow or black star in the top right corner on the front of your ID.

You can see example photos on the DHS website.

Can I still drive without a REAL ID?

Yes. The REAL ID requirements will only impact air travel.

Want to make extra money outside of your day job?  Sign up for CNBC's new online course  How to Earn Passive Income Online  to learn about common passive income streams, tips to get started and real-life success stories.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It's newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life.