When is the best time to reality check?

[Metalconch]

As newbie as this sounds, when is the best time to reality check? My reality checks generally consist of me looking at a clock when I get the chance. I've heard about forcing yourself to RC at random/inconvenient times, because if you only RC when convient, it won't be, or you won't think about it when dreaming. What if you had a planned RC every ten minutes, would this schedule fit into your dream so that you would check more often? Do scheduled reality checks defeat the purpose? Please give me your opinions and ideas

[Arra]

As for the time of day, the best time I think is at night, before you sleep. It's good to do it throughout the day, but focusing on the end would probably help. Of course you can't do too many reality checks (unless they're interfering with your daily life). But I think they're most effective when they really make you question your reality, and doing them too often will make you do them so automatically you won't question your reality as properly as you should.

[carwashguy]

Besides when dream signs happen, I do them whenever I see something otherwise dreamlike and incongruous. If the toilet bowl looks a little too clean, I'll do a reality check. If some people randomly start fighting, I'll do a reality check. Last week I noticed it was raining in the hall way (that one was actually a dream--score!). I don't just do the reality check and move on, though. I stop and really try to question whether I'm dreaming or not. I look at the world very closely first, and then I do the reality check. Edit: One last thing: be especially careful when rationalizing. I might see something a little off and immediately rationalize it. However, I'm even better at rationalizing even stranger stuff in my dreams, so I try not to do this anymore. "Oh, I must've forgot to wear my pants to work. Of course I'm awake." So, while I may think of a quick rationalization, I put it aside and instead try to engage the situation as critically as possible while keeping an open mind.

[MischiefManaged]

Every time you see/ read/ think about anything somehow related to dreams - because your interest in lucid dreaming carries over into dream world you may find yourself thinking or talking about dreams or lucid dreaming in the dream, so RC here would help. Also every time you wake up - it really helped me yesterday

[faceonmars]

What if you had a planned RC every ten minutes, would this schedule fit into your dream so that you would check more often? Do scheduled reality checks defeat the purpose? Please give me your opinions and ideas When I RC I will see if I can float by hopping once. I do this every 10 or 15 minutes for about an hour before bed. I'm not that big on RC's in the conscious world however I do them all the time in dreams.

[Raspberry]

I agree with carwashguy. Only RC if you see something strange that makes you wonder whether you're dreaming or not. Random RCs don't do much good because you never randomly RC in a dream (or at least, rarely) whereas if you see something strange and associate it with RCing, you're much more likely to RC. If you don't notice enough strange things to RC by, look for them. This should also help improve your awareness. Really make sure you're questioning yourself when you RC.

[Metalconch]

Thanks for your advice everyone! I agree with carwashguy. Only RC if you see something strange that makes you wonder whether you're dreaming or not. Random RCs don't do much good because you never randomly RC in a dream (or at least, rarely) whereas if you see something strange and associate it with RCing, you're much more likely to RC. I agree with you about reality checking in situations that don't make sense, that's why I always do. I've noticed that when I dream, it usually falls into two categories: realistic or nonsense. Im much more likely to notice something strange in a realistic dream but I usually have dreams that are bizarre and would therefore never trigger a reality check. The really strange part is that 80% of my reality checks are just a random glance at a clock throughout the dream. Maybe this thoughtless action reflects the way I actually reality check in real life.