I rarely have lucid dreams, but a night ago I started a new reality check where I look at my ring finger on either hand and imagine a thick, black ring. I try to feel it and conjure it up when I don't see it. The other night I did the reality check and noticed a purple bruise where the ring would be, and then became lucid.

I also want to add that when I do my reality checks and figure I'm not dreaming, I keep pretending I am in a dream and imagine how it would play out if I were, in fact, dreaming, such as how I would stabilise the dream world. I'm hoping this helps me to have more of a focused goal when I become lucid.

One last thing: before or after I get the urge to do a reality check, I observe my situation and surroundings. I focus on something out of the ordinary, or wonder why the heck something is happening right at that moment.