reality checks are for a raise in awareness. when you do them without "thinking" during waking life you will dream of doing rc and just keep dreaming.
you want to ask yourself not if you are awake but you want to prove that you are dreaming. when the alarm goes off i go like: wait i was in autopilot mode (zoned out) again and unaware. i think i am dreaming. then i do my RCs and try to prove that i am dreaming i look at my hands, see if i find a digital clock or a little text i might read twice, maybe some telekinesis, look around where i am and what i did some minutes ago and what i am doing and why i am doing it and if all this makes sense. after that when i have time i visualize what i would do when i would be dreaming (incubation of dream goals for example) when i dont have time i try to stay more aware and dont zone out directly again. when i go get a tea or something: while i do it i be suspicious if it might be a dream and try not to be lost in my thoughts and find myself 10 minutes later at my desk with a cup of tea where i vaguely know that i get it but nothing more. try to be present and be there and do what you do and not be lost in your thoughts all the time and be on autopilot.

nevertheless its a good sign that you dreamed of a rc. you do at least something right now you just need to change the mindset so it matters