Any Way to Know You're Dreaming Without Reality Checking?

[OfficeTally]

I've just been curious about this lately. During real life, I've been reality checking very often, mainly using the nose closing breathing method, but during my dreams, I seem to forget, haha. I might not have the habit built up enough, or something else, not sure. So: Is there any way to tell you're dreaming without performing a reality check? And I mean basically every type of reality check. Thanks!

[Dogod]

I haven't had any lucid dream that was started by a reality check. Every time I've become lucid, I just suddenly realized that it was a dream. Don't stop reality checking, though. It's a great habit because it does have the potential to start a lucid, and also it makes you think about lucid dreaming more often, which also helps induce lucids.

[kevojy]

The first two times I became lucid I didn't do a reality check. I just realized I was in a dream. But the reality checks are good because they make you question if your dreaming. So you might not do the physical act, but unconsciously I think it becomes a habit.

[Clyde Machine]

I don't do reality checks, I just happen to know that I'm dreaming. The problem with this is it's unpredictable when you'll become aware unless you're doing a MILD like I do, but it's one way of getting lucid.

[Cairus]

While awake, I'll doubletake text and sometimes time... The thing is, I don't actually make a habit of doing this 'every day all of the time'- I only do it when I'm suspicious that I 'might be dreaming' or 'something feels off', or 'I could swear I just fell asleep!'- I usually keep reality checks for when I might've had an FA when WILDing, or to reaffirm that I'm having an LD. Even if I'm 'pretty certain I'm dreaming', I'd still like to see 'proof' before I do something like, oh, punch someone in the face or jump out of a window 'to fly' and fall to my death! Consider it a safety precaution? Edit: I just remembered that, as a little kid, I used to RC by pinching myself *every time* I went to go pee, because I was so afraid I'd 'not know I was dreaming and pee the bed'. I don't do it anymore, but man, talk about 'practice'!