Ya even experienced lucid dreamers don't recognize dream for most of time. It is because the frotal brain is sleeping. You have to check your dream journal for situation who occurs pretty often...
For me: -When I am late, -When I am naked/see an attractive woman, -When I feel pain, -When I see something magnificent, -When I escape from something
And everytime in Waking Life I encounter these situations, I do a Reality check.
You should have atleast 2 favorites Reality check so if 1 fail you got the second one.