The Cycle Adjustment Technique:
Lucid Dreams with CAT

The Cycle Adjustment Technique, or CAT, is another real easy way to learn how to lucid dream. It involves adjusting your sleep cycles to raise your conscious awareness during the early morning REM sleep phases. When used correctly, it can generate up to four lucid dreams in a week.

This lucid dream exercise was created by Daniel Love, an expert lucid dreamer from the UK. He is currently writing a book about his lucid dream adventures, with more information on his methods for waking up in dreams.

In an experiment involving ten students, the CAT technique taught eight how to lucid dream in the first two weeks, reporting an average of two lucid dreams. With consistency this dream exercise can produce four lucid dreams a week.

As you can see, the Cycle Adjustment Technique is a pretty simple way to learn how to lucid dream. There are no memory cues, visualizations or other mental tricks to rehearse. The hardest part is getting up early and being strict about it! You must stick to the schedule or you are unlikely to have lucid dreams.

Cycle Adjustment Technique: FAQ

What time should I go to bed while practicing CAT?

Go to bed at the same time every night. This is all about programming your body clock, which in turn adjusts its own timer for releasing bodily chemicals throughout the day. The more rigid you are about going to bed and waking up at the set times, the more likely it is to induce lucid dreams.

What should I do when I wake up early?

Do whatever you like - but don't go back to bed! You should also perform reality checks during the next 90 minutes as often as possible. Then go about your day as normal. Doing more reality checks during the day will help, but is not critical.

What if I wake up early on a normal day?

If you naturally wake up early when you should be sleeping in, just lie still and remind yourself to do lots of reality checks the next time you are dreaming. Practice the MILD or WILD lucid dreaming techniques while listening to binaural beats to re-enter the dream state.

Can I ever sleep in late?

Yes, but only on a normal waking day. And try to keep it to a minimum so that you don't mess up your newly optimized sleep cycle.

How long should I practice the Cycle Adjustment Technique?

If CAT generates regular lucid dreams, you can keep using this dream exercise for as long as you like. Daniel Love recommends that you repeat step one (waking up 90 minutes early each day for a week) to refresh the cycle every few months.

Try the Cycle Adjustment Technique for yourself! You could learn how to lucid dream in a week with this very simple dream exercise.

Related articles

Lucid Dreaming Techniques

Keeping a Dream Journal

Reality Checks

Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams

Wake Induced Lucid Dreams

Cycle Adjustment Technique

Wake Back To Bed

Meditation for Lucid Dreaming

Self Hypnosis for Lucid Dreaming

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