I think it's my best way to get lucid, but I've been getting lucid since I was a kid (10 years almost?) and I don't know how it would work for others. But being aware of what is happening (especially in your mind) and not being lost in thought sounds like it's important to remain clear headed when you do get lucid. Because when you get lost in thought in a lucid dream, lose awareness and get carried away, you just forget that you're dreaming, you go along with the plot and you wake up thinking "oops, another lucid dream wasted".

Whenever I lose mental clarity in a lucid dream I will forget that I am dreaming and I'll go back to normal dreaming.