Nope, a reality check is not required, you can do just as you said and become lucid. Its usualy how I go l lucid actually =D. All of a sudden soemthing just goes.."DING" its not really a ding its hard to explain but perhaps you have an idea. And I think to myself, "I am dreaming arent I" At that point though alot of the time the world begins to collapse and get fuzzy and or I feel like I am inebriated and so not in controll of my body it scares the willies out of me.

Untill I realised, saying aloud in my mind "I am dreaming" started to bring me out of sleep too far, and the dream collapsed.

So... Dont think it... just happily nod in agreement with the idea, dont let your mind wrap around it too far other wise your going to get its attention and your going to wake up. I suppose its like the Hitchikers guide approach to flying..
You have to be incredibly surprised and distracted as you are falling, so much so that because of your complete and total disregard for gravity.. Gravity disregards you.
Then as you waft around, dont think to yourself you are flying, because thats impossible, you cannot possibly be flying. So just happily concur that flyings impossible and that there is no possible way you are flying at that moment in time. Apply that to your I am dreaming thought and perhaps you will be able to retain clarity in your dream.

OR you can close your eyes a moment, take a deep breath and spread your arms out to your side. Then Open your eyes, bring your hands together in a clap before you while saying "Clarity" Imagine your clap sending out a shpere of light that as it passes everything the world clarifies before you.

You have to know that what you will can actually happen, so if that didnt work for you at first and you feel the dream world collapse work quickly and try again but keep in your mind, that you KNOW its a dream now and that you KNOW you can do anything.


So in my experience as for being tired when you wake up after a very intense dreamfilled night, yes, you feel tired.. Your body sleeps but your mind does not and after time this will begin to wear on you.

Amazing is going to become an obsolete word to you, what you will see and do will surpass most words so definatly keep it up.