Thread: CAT research

Hello everyone,
When reading the different tutorials, I noticed the CAT method. For those that haven't/don't know what it is, let me explain:
The idea is that you start with having a set schedule. For a period of one week, you start to wake up 90min earlier than usual and do a RC every 5 min or so. The purpose of this is to awaken your brain earlier than usual and the RCs cause you to start questioning whether you are awake or not, basically reinforcements. After the week is finished, you go back to the normal sleep schedule thinking you are going to wake up 90min earlier and whenever you have hit that mark, your logical center should "turn on" and you would start questioning whether you are dreaming, RCing in the process and thus giving you lucidity. The success rate of this method is said to be up to 4 lucids per week which is pretty high. Here is the link to the tutorial for more details: CAT Tutorial
In this research, I am interested in trying this method out myself and finding out if it really is as beneficial as written. I am in the process of fixing my sleep schedule now and will log my times slept and awoken on a daily basis. I still plan to do RCs during the day but the majority of them will be done in phase 2 shown below. All comments and advice are welcome

Plan of Action:
Phase 1-
@ Fix up my sleeping schedule
.. @ Start to sleep at 11-11:30pm.
.. @ Wake up at 6am(Work)

Phase 2-
@ Wake up 90min earlier than 6am for one week
.. @ Keep brain very active during this period
.. @ Do RCs(hand, palm, nose and possibly watch) every 5min

What has been done so far?
@ Working on phase 1-
.. @ Got some of the waking up part already done.
.... @ Been waking up at that time 4-5 times a week.
.. @ Have slept sometimes around 11:30pm
.... @ Just need to maintain that for longer

Relieving sleep deprivation:
@ This method will involve some sleep deprivation which could be countered using two options:
.. @ Sleep 45min earlier than set schedule
.. @ Have a 20-30min nap after work.
Neither of these two options would mess up with this method and they will be used ONLY as a last resort in the case of sleep deprivation.

Other thoughts:
@ This should be interesting, since, I'm pretty confident that this method will give me some good results along with helping me set limits for my sleep and improve my dream recall. Talk about a bargain

Very good idea! I struggle with having to wake up early for work also. I should try this. I will be observing how it goes for you!

I'm probably going to try this out of desperation....I'll keep a watch out on how it works for you.

Originally Posted by Dannon Oneironaut

Very good idea! I struggle with having to wake up early for work also. I should try this. I will be observing how it goes for you!

Thanks. ATM, WILDs aren't working since I can't get SP or fall back asleep and I'm finding it hard to do RCs during the day because it's hard to do them at work plus I'm lazy when I get home I think everyone struggles to get up early for work. After I finished uni, I was sleeping till 11 or so everyday, glad that I had no more early morning labs or classes, so, working early shifts is a big change for me I won't have this job forever but based on this research, it would give me a good idea on whether the CAT method should be pursued when I moved on to my next job, higher education, etc....

Originally Posted by EspadaInMyCloset

I'm probably going to try this out of desperation....I'll keep a watch out on how it works for you.

I would stick with DILD mostly because this method has some sleep deprivation involved and if you are in school, then you can't afford that since it might affect your reactions and judgement

Day 1:
@ Went to bed at around 11:05, couldn't sleep till around 11:30 or so
.. @ Woke up very briefly twice during the night
@ Woke up at 5:45am and stayed in bed till around 5:55am or so

Thoughts: Not bad for the first day, getting the 11:00 sleep part will be the harder one since I've had good experience waking up at around 6am and they have some interesting shows around that time If I'm not mistaken, I think the most important part of CAT is waking up, not sleeping(still important though) since they recommend that you sleep 45min earlier during the depreviation week

Day 2:
@ Went to bed at around 11:15, slept around 11:20 or so
@ Woke up at 5:50am and stayed in bed till around 7:00am or so
.. @ Might have had a micro nap or two from around 6:15 to 6:45 or so

Thoughts: Slept faster than last night, definitely a plus. Wasn't too happy with the whole micro nap thing but it happened and it's too late now. Just gotta remember that I should get out of bed when I put off my alarm.

How about with an uneatable schedule? Most Wednesday I have to wake up at 5:45, tue, thur, fri and sat around 8-9... sun and mon at 8:15... however, some random days I might too wake up at 06:00 too... (i must drive my wife)

Yeah, unstable... sorry for the confusion... and yes... I though it would be bad for me. I'll stick to WILDs then

Day 4:
@ Went to bed at around 11:30
@ Woke up at 5:50am and got out of bed

Thoughts: Could have went to bed around 11pm, but, was reading an interesting thread on here, it's all Aquanina's fault Anyways, fixed the waking up part, just need to maintain for another week or so and then I plan to start phase 2. No need to delay it

Day 5:
@ Went to bed at around 11:10
@ Woke up at 5:50am and got out of bed shortly after

Thoughts: On track now, just need to maintain it Interestingly enough, I would feeling refreshed, so, it's possibly my body has started/gotten used to waking up at ~7hr of sleep

Day 6:
@ Went to bed at around 11:05
@ Woke up at 5:50am and got out of bed right away

Thoughts: Just more maintenance needed

Day 7:
@ Went to bed at around 11:15
@ Woke up at 5:50am and got out of bed

Thoughts: I think I've gotten into this schedule now. I just need more maintenance. Soon enough, I wouldn't even need an alarm clock to wake me up