Snowy's CAT Experiment

**Snowy Egypt** · 09-30-2008 04:36 AM

(I don't exactly know where I should put this, but since I'm try to get another Lucid, I figured it would be best if it was here.)

Okay, this thread is to help me keep track of my CAT progress. Since we finally have a clear CAT tutorial, I decided to give it a test run. Since the 1st seven days are CAT Prep, I'll record information here.

**Snowy Egypt** · 09-30-2008 05:19 AM

September 29, 2008

Bedtime: 12:00 - 12:25 AM; Alarm went off: 4:30 AM

Okay, so everything went as planned. My alarm went off at 4:30, and since it's across the room, I got up to turn it off. I did it again 10 minutes later, and that time, turned if off. I RCed about every 5 minutes or so. I didn't check how much time had passed, but I guessed I'd been up for 30 minutes or so.

So then these receptionists behind a large, tinsel-covered desk at my doctor's office started asking for my name, messing it up all the while. My parents weren't of any help, either. Then someone started reading some children's Christmas books to everyone in the waiting room. My friend Clayton came up to me and we started talking about what moves we wanted to see. I could see parents at the desk talking to one another.

Then my mom woke me up at 7:00 to get ready for school.

Note to Self: GET OUT OF BED when the alarm goes off.

**Neeros** · 09-30-2008 09:29 AM

meow.

**ninja9578** · 09-30-2008 02:50 PM

Yay. A CAT Journal could go in the alternative sleep section I guess, but this would be a good spot too.

**Snowy Egypt** · 10-01-2008 05:27 AM

September 30, 2008

Bedtime: 12:00 - 12:25 AM; Alarm went off: N/A

Okay, last night was HORRIBLE. No joke. I went into my parents room to spend some time with my mom before going to bed, and ended up falling asleep in her bed.

When I woke up, it was around 5:13, so I had missed my mark!! But I still tried to stay up for the remainder of time I had left. What a trip that was...

I kept falling in and out of consciousness for about 30 minutes or so. I did NO RCs whatsoever, and then fell asleep altogether because I STILL didn't get out of bed. I had a dream about some sort of Japanese shrine. It was very beautiful, and a whole bunch of Cherry Blossom trees were in bloom.

Then the alarm went off at 6:00 and my mom made me get up for school.

Note to Self: GET OUT OF BED!! Jeez, it's not that hard...

**Snowy Egypt** · 10-01-2008 09:23 PM

October 1, 2008

Bedtime: 12:30 - 12:45; Alarm went off: 4:30 AM

I went to bed a little later than usual, but got up at the right time. Then I went back to sleep. I had a Chorus Concert the night before, so I decided to basically skip today because I needed some serious sleep. I had another very vivid dream, but I have forgotten it.

Note to Self: Try to get to bed at 11:00 instead of 12:00 from now on.

**spaceexplorer** · 10-01-2008 10:01 PM

From the sounds of it, i'd probably suggest giving your CAT attempt a try at a later date. Seems like you're getting little sleep as it is (8 hours is the recommended amount for a healthy nights sleep) and your sleep schedual is a little eratic. You're probably not going to get very representative results unless you get your sleep cycle working harmoniously.

When i've used CAT in the past (with a good deal of success) it's always been when i've not had to really strain myself. Such as going to bed around 12, waking up around 9.30 (as my normal wake time) and the earlier wake time being 8. That way i've got a good night sleep regardless of if im waking at the earlier time or later time. I'm lucky as my work dosn't start early, but you could always just go to bed an hour early.

Plus it's pretty vital that you get out of bed.

Am i right in thinking that your normal wake time is 7?
If so, i'd suggest getting to bed earlier than 12.

This is one of those methods that shouldn't be forced.
It's just a natural change of pattern.

Also why not reduce the 90 minutes to 60 minutes if that makes life easier?
It's not the ideal set up (what with sleep phases usually being 90 minutes)
but one thing i was taught about this method is to try and make it work around your life, not to work your life around it. Hey i've even known people have used cat successfully by only adjust the cycle by 30 minutes. Remember your brain will start gearing up for waking before your earlier wake time, so even if you are only adjusting by 30 minutes, you're probably going to get 60 minutes of improved brain chemistry.

So with a 60 minute adjustment, you'd be going to bed at 11,
getting up at 6 for the earlier wake time, 7 for normal days.

Or 30 minute adjustment, bed time at 11.
Getting up at 6.30, 7 for normal days.

As with any lucid dreaming method, you have to try and work out the best way you can make it work for you. Methods arn't laws, they are suggestions.

Hope that makes life easier.

**Snowy Egypt** · 10-01-2008 11:27 PM

Thanks for that. I'll have to revamp the times though. My get up time is actually 6:00. That 7:00 is up there because my family woke up late that day. (More like everyday...)

I like the idea of getting up 60 minutes beforehand instead of 90. I'll try that for a while. I get to really test CAT next week since it's Fall Break for my school district, so the changes will be put into effect very soon.

And yes, I will get out of bed this time.

**Snowy Egypt** · 01-20-2009 02:00 AM

Hehe...

Well, let's say my CAT break was a bit longer than I wanted. So today I decided to resurrect my CAT. (Wow, that sounds so morbid.) I'm taking space's advice and waking up 60 minutes earlier this week instead of the recommended 90, just to see if it helps.

And, of course, I will get out of bed.

Expect the next post of mine to be tomorrow's results.

**spaceexplorer** · 01-20-2009 02:02 AM

good luck.

**Shift** · 01-20-2009 06:42 PM

Snowy's a necromancer! Awesome

Good luck with your CAT
haha

**Snowy Egypt** · 01-20-2009 10:56 PM

January 20, 2009

Bedtime: 12:00 - 12:15; Alarm went off: N/A

Geez, I wish I had something better to report.

I meant to go to bed at 10:00, but I washed my hair and 24 got in the way. So then it was 10:30, but then I had to get clothes ready for school. Then it was 11:00. As a last minute decision, I decided to pull out the B6 halves. But THEN I decided to end my 3 day weekend the way I wanted to, and finished watching season 1 of ABC Family's show, Kyle XY. THEN I went to bed...and dreamed nothing.

I don't even remember my alarm going off...