Dreams; they can either leave you feeling happy or discontent when realising what you thought was real was actually all in your head. When you have a good dream you immediately feel more uplifted in the morning and they can actually increase your productivity as well. But how should you go about making sure your visions are positive?

Website q.equinox.com spoke to several sleep experts on what they recommend to achieve this.

The first tip is to train your stomach and brain in the lead up to bed time. If your tummy is full and mind relaxed, the more of a deep sleep you'll get. This means you should limit your caffeine consumption or any sugary foods which will stimulate your senses. It was previously revealed in a study that drinking coffee even six hours before you go to sleep can affect your snooze patterns and, as a result, even lead to nightmares. There's also links to spicy foods and products high in fat causing bad dreams.

“If you eat late at night your body is still working to digest and process the food, so it can't fully shut down into sleeping and dreaming mode,” therapist and health and wellness expert Jenny Giblin explained.

So eat well and you'll hopefully have some pleasant thoughts during shut-eye.

Having space around you is also something which will contribute to you having pleasant dreams, Giblin advises. Small things such as lighting a candle and keeping your room clear of clutter, or even adding a bunch of flowers to your windowsill, can make a world of difference.

And something as simple as noting down your thoughts before bed can help you unload any negativity so you don't take them to sleep with you.

"If you’ve had a bad day, allowed things to bother you and didn’t manage your stress well, your dreams that night will reflect it,” professional dream analyst and author Lauri Loewenberg added.

It's been found suppressing unwanted emotions and thoughts can increase those which come up in your dreams, causing them to be distressed and full of stress.

“Get all your thoughts and worries out of your psyche and onto paper,” Loewenberg added. “Before you close your journal, write down what you would like to accomplish tomorrow, and if you have a request for your dreaming mind, write that down too. It can be anything from Brad Pitt to getting along better with your mother-in-law.”

Lastly, apps which lead you into a deep slumber could also be beneficial. Try experimenting with your own methods and see which come out best. You'll be having sweet dreams in no time!

© Cover Media