Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhy We Have Work-Related DreamsWhat Work-Related Dreams MeanHow to UnwindHabits for Better Sleep

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Why We Have Work-Related Dreams

What Work-Related Dreams Mean

How to Unwind

Habits for Better Sleep

Close

If you’ve been having the same work-related dreams forever, it turns out you’re not alone.

It makes sense, right? In high school and college, many people swapped stories about how they were having nightmares that they missed a test or failed a class—or even that they showed up to a class not realizing that the final was that day.

It comes with the territory ofexperiencing stress during daily life. One study even confirmed that people who experience worry or stress in their daily lives are more likely to experience them in their dreams.

It also found that the more often you experience stress, the more often you have dreams in general. Not only did people who were more stressed experience more work-relatedstress dreams, but they were also more likely to interpret them negatively.

As always, remember that your brain is on your team. This study found that the goal of these dreams is to help people process the experiences, both negative and positive, that they have on a regular basis.

Freud even hypothesizedthat these dreams are potentially the mind’s way of dealing with things that it really wants to avoid (due to stress and just general annoyance) during the waking hours of the day.

12 Tips for Better Sleep With Anxiety

Self-Determination Theory

Two psychological researchers broke down the three basic psychological needs that we have to feel psychologically fulfilled.In general, when all of these things are present, people are more likely to feel satisfied and push themselves to succeed. These themes are not only likely to influence people’s psychological well-being; they’re likely to show up in dreams.

These are particularly relevant to work-related dreams because work is an entirely different environment from everyday life, but still one wherein it’s necessary to cultivate satisfaction. Think about it: everyone wants to feel that their co-workers relate to them, view them as competent, and trust them with autonomy.

Self-Determination Theory in Psychology

It has been pretty widely studied that many of the typical anxiety-style dreams arefairly universal.You know the ones: falling, being caught in a fire, swimming, being chased, being nude, or dressed inappropriately in public. Not only can these dreams reflect feelings of helplessness or uncertainty (things that are pretty common for many people in stressful working situations), they can also reflect the desire for basic psychological needs.

6 Ways to Feel Better About Your Job

How to Unwind Before Bed

Taking the time to properly unwind before bed can be a critical component necessary for a good night’s rest.

What Is Revenge Bedtime Procrastination?

The truth is, your constant work dreams may not be a result of anything that’s super obvious. In general, overall health equals a higher sleep quality. That being said, here are a few other things that could help you finally get the good night’s sleep you deserve.

Filling Your Mental Health Toolbox With Dr. Rachel Goldman

A Word From Verywell Mind

If your work dreams are getting the best of you, know that there are ways to improve your overall mental health and finally get the good night of rest that you deserve. We’re rooting for you.

How to Stop Dreaming About Work

7 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Weinstein, N., Campbell, R., & Vansteenkiste, M. (2017).Linking psychological need experiences to daily and recurring dreams.Motiv Emot,42, 50–63. doi:10.1007/s11031-017-9656-0Freud, S. (1913/2010).The Interpretation of Dreams. New York: Sterling Press.Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000).The” what” and” why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior.Psychological Inquiry, 11, 227–268. doi:10.1207/S15327965PLI1104_01Nielsen, T. A., Zadra, A. L., Simard, V., Saucier, S., Stenstrom, P., Smith, C., & Kuiken, D. (2003).The typical dreams of Canadian university students.Dreaming, 13, 211–235. doi:10.1023/B:DREM.0000003144.40929.0bErrguig, L., El Hangouche, A. J., Rkain, H., & Aboudrar, S. (2019).Perception of Sleep Disturbances due to Bedtime Use of Blue Light-Emitting Devices and Its Impact on Habits and Sleep Quality among Young Medical Students.BioMed Research International. doi:10.1155/2019/7012350Taylor, S. R., & Drivera, H. S. (2000).Exercise and sleep.Sleep Medicine Reviews,4(4), 387–402.Krakow, B., & Zadra, A. (2010).Clinical Management of Chronic Nightmares: Imagery Rehearsal Therapy.Behavioral Sleep Medicine,4(1), 45–70. doi:10.1207/s15402010bsm0401_4

7 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Weinstein, N., Campbell, R., & Vansteenkiste, M. (2017).Linking psychological need experiences to daily and recurring dreams.Motiv Emot,42, 50–63. doi:10.1007/s11031-017-9656-0Freud, S. (1913/2010).The Interpretation of Dreams. New York: Sterling Press.Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000).The” what” and” why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior.Psychological Inquiry, 11, 227–268. doi:10.1207/S15327965PLI1104_01Nielsen, T. A., Zadra, A. L., Simard, V., Saucier, S., Stenstrom, P., Smith, C., & Kuiken, D. (2003).The typical dreams of Canadian university students.Dreaming, 13, 211–235. doi:10.1023/B:DREM.0000003144.40929.0bErrguig, L., El Hangouche, A. J., Rkain, H., & Aboudrar, S. (2019).Perception of Sleep Disturbances due to Bedtime Use of Blue Light-Emitting Devices and Its Impact on Habits and Sleep Quality among Young Medical Students.BioMed Research International. doi:10.1155/2019/7012350Taylor, S. R., & Drivera, H. S. (2000).Exercise and sleep.Sleep Medicine Reviews,4(4), 387–402.Krakow, B., & Zadra, A. (2010).Clinical Management of Chronic Nightmares: Imagery Rehearsal Therapy.Behavioral Sleep Medicine,4(1), 45–70. doi:10.1207/s15402010bsm0401_4

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Weinstein, N., Campbell, R., & Vansteenkiste, M. (2017).Linking psychological need experiences to daily and recurring dreams.Motiv Emot,42, 50–63. doi:10.1007/s11031-017-9656-0Freud, S. (1913/2010).The Interpretation of Dreams. New York: Sterling Press.Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000).The” what” and” why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior.Psychological Inquiry, 11, 227–268. doi:10.1207/S15327965PLI1104_01Nielsen, T. A., Zadra, A. L., Simard, V., Saucier, S., Stenstrom, P., Smith, C., & Kuiken, D. (2003).The typical dreams of Canadian university students.Dreaming, 13, 211–235. doi:10.1023/B:DREM.0000003144.40929.0bErrguig, L., El Hangouche, A. J., Rkain, H., & Aboudrar, S. (2019).Perception of Sleep Disturbances due to Bedtime Use of Blue Light-Emitting Devices and Its Impact on Habits and Sleep Quality among Young Medical Students.BioMed Research International. doi:10.1155/2019/7012350Taylor, S. R., & Drivera, H. S. (2000).Exercise and sleep.Sleep Medicine Reviews,4(4), 387–402.Krakow, B., & Zadra, A. (2010).Clinical Management of Chronic Nightmares: Imagery Rehearsal Therapy.Behavioral Sleep Medicine,4(1), 45–70. doi:10.1207/s15402010bsm0401_4

Weinstein, N., Campbell, R., & Vansteenkiste, M. (2017).Linking psychological need experiences to daily and recurring dreams.Motiv Emot,42, 50–63. doi:10.1007/s11031-017-9656-0

Freud, S. (1913/2010).The Interpretation of Dreams. New York: Sterling Press.

Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000).The” what” and” why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior.Psychological Inquiry, 11, 227–268. doi:10.1207/S15327965PLI1104_01

Nielsen, T. A., Zadra, A. L., Simard, V., Saucier, S., Stenstrom, P., Smith, C., & Kuiken, D. (2003).The typical dreams of Canadian university students.Dreaming, 13, 211–235. doi:10.1023/B:DREM.0000003144.40929.0b

Errguig, L., El Hangouche, A. J., Rkain, H., & Aboudrar, S. (2019).Perception of Sleep Disturbances due to Bedtime Use of Blue Light-Emitting Devices and Its Impact on Habits and Sleep Quality among Young Medical Students.BioMed Research International. doi:10.1155/2019/7012350

Taylor, S. R., & Drivera, H. S. (2000).Exercise and sleep.Sleep Medicine Reviews,4(4), 387–402.

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