Did I mess up CAT?

Two weeks ago I started CAT by waking up at 6:30 as I usually woke up at 8. When that didn't work (I was too tired and always fell back to sleep) I changed by wake up time to 9 so I would wake up at 7:30 and be able to get enough sleep. But I still fell asleep after I woke up. I've been doing this on and off for days, I am now trying to wake up at 9 again but I always wake up at 7:30, and yesterday my alarm didn't go off so I woke up at 11!

Did I just completely screw up my clock? Is this a hopeless cause? I am NOT waking up at 5:30, thank you very much. Yesterday morning I did have a lucid dream, but I think it's because I cried so much because everything was just so screwed up (the charge of emotion may have kicked my brain)

I don't remember exactly, but I think CAT is "Cycle Adjustment Technique" by Daniel Love? Some of his more innovative techniques are not widely known so some may not be familiar. Essentially you are adjusting your normal sleep cycle around to kind "shake things up," and promote greater awareness--am I right? So you seem shaken up so I guess that worked!

In all seriousness, I would say that that technique is fine, as long as you have some understanding of what you are going to do with it. Are you going to use the REM rebound on another day for a greater chance at lucidity and intensity? Are you just trying to shake up your routine in general, and are still practicing other induction techniques? I don't really know what else you are doing so it's hard to say whether or not you've succeeded.

on your early wake days what did you do on waking?

you should have done mind intensive stuff (like in my case when trying CAT I play minesweeper at high speed)
you should keep your brain as active as possible the entire time
and of course intensify reality checks especially around when you think your Last rem period on the normal wake cycle is


Also what did you do on the normal wake days?

get up and live as usual but make sure your a bit active for at least the first half hour also RC then


The rest of the day doesn't matter except for bed time

which should always be the same time of course
and also when you use MILD techniques
telling yourself something like 'I will know when I am dreaming' or some such


I don't usually go for the strict full sleep and 90 min offset myself
If I wake early, and know I don't have time to sleep again I just start minesweeper playing
and when I intend to wake early I usually just Mild the wake up suggestion in for only a half hour

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbiIb1XwA-g YouTube overview