I would try not journaling! Also, give it some more time. You might keep the journal near your bedside, and write down any dreams that you think are funny or interesting. One week is not very long, though . . . .

Also, if the reality checks are annoying you, you may be doing too many. Try just RCing when you come across something odd (like seeing the word "dream" written down, or having someone talk to you about lucid dreaming, or seeing someone you haven't seen in a while) and when you go to bed suggest to yourself that you'll probably at least notice a few strange things tonight. It doesn't need to be a stressful, "what's the point?" enterprise. That will actually kill it. Make it fun. If there are other things you would like to do, unrelated to LDing (taking walks, going to the gym, etc.) do those things and don't stress out about whether or not you're asleep. The nice thing about lucid dreaming is that if you put in the consistent effort, week after week, that will begin to build in your subconscious. You'll have a lucid dream.