Help with getting lucid from dream characters and locations

I have been journaling every morning for about 6 months, and have a good idea of the dream characters and locations that keep appearing in my dreams. The trouble is that I have not been able to become lucid when they appear. I do MILD before going to sleep "I will recognize my dream characters and dream locations the next time I dream" and variations on that, but no luck so far.

If you had a similar issue and were able to breakthrough, please share some great tips that will help me get over this hump. Thanks!

My main dream sign is false awakenings, but this dream sign comes up in various ways.

I might wake up in a different room.
Dream characters might come into my room.
I might notice dream characters outside my room.
I might look at my alarm clock and see that it looks different.
My body might feel different.

Though my dream sign is false awakenings, I am not usually paying attention to the fact I have woken up during these dreams. I am paying attention to other things in the dream and I remember I am dreaming from those other things because I have learned that those other things are signs that I am dreaming.

Look deeper into what you are actually paying attention to and what motivates you in the dreams in which dream signs appear. Learn that these things you are paying attention to during your dreams are signs that you are dreaming. This will help you develop more ways for to be reminded that you are dreaming during your dreams.

Break your dream signs down by situation as I did with my dream sign. What are the various situations that happen when your dream signs appear in your dreams?

Great advice dolphin, thanks! I agree, I need to look at my dream signs in a different way. I'll try this for a few weeks and will let you know how it goes.

You can try this right now, if you want. Recall some dreams in your dream journal. Learn from those! That is what they are there for.