How often should I do reality checks?

I don't remember much so my dream recall is horrid. Should I start simply on doing reality checks then moving on to recall? What is a good reality check?

I'm not sure how often - I certainly don't do them enough. Maybe every few hours or so? I just do them whenever it crosses my mind, and I don't think that's the best idea as that's only 4-5 times a day at most.

For dream recall, just write down whatever you can remember upon waking up. How often do you remember your dreams?

My favorite reality checks are 1) checking my watch and 2) trying to levitate above the ground. And just examining my surroundings for anything odd. They don't always work, but they've been fairly successful for me.

First thing should be your recall. You want to remember your lucids.

But you can start on your RCs as well. I recommend you add awareness and mantras to RCs. Here is a collection of methods for DILD.

And here is a better explanation of awareness. Please ask if you have any more questions. Happy dreams.

The first step to lucidity is always dream recall. Just write down as much as you can possibly remember and it'll get better.

As for reality checks, I use the nose pinch and that has never failed me.
You should reality check every time you feel like something doesn't seem right. Take a look at the reality check tutorial.
Good luck!

Work on that dream recall first. I always say to new lucid dreamers, remember to do as many reality checks as possible. But what's more important is to consider the nature of the RC action you performed. In essence you are trying to achieve is the mindset of questioning yourself about the reality of the world you are in.

For example, you do the 'jump into the air hoping to fly technique' :cheeky:, what makes you think it is a dream, what makes you think it isn't? Well, there's gravity so even if you jumped a tiny bit higher than expected you can be sure that you are in a dream. There's the sound of your feet landing on the ground if you do fall back down. What does it sound like precisely? Is it a thud, a tap, an earthquake!? These things aren't consistent at times in dreams.

Learn to think about or notice these little details and they will get carried forward into your next lucid experience.

"How often should I do reality checks?" says he.
"Now," says I.

If you mean during waking reality, there's really no point. What you should aim for is being able to automatically distinguish whether you're dreaming or not. I rarely get lucid via a check... I just know, somehow.

Work on recall instead. Work on recall instead. Work on recall instead. Work on recall instead. Work on recall instead.

You should work on your recall first. :) Also once an hour is a good time to start reality checking. You should also reality check when you notice something strange or dream-like. The nose-pinch reality check is one of the most common reality checks used. It is also one of the best. All you do is pinch your nose and try to breath through it. If you can, you're dreaming! While you are doing the reality check actually believe you can breath though your nose. If you just assume you can, you might not in a dream!

While you do a reality check you should look around you and be aware of everything. Ask how you got there. Don't just make it a habit you don't even think about while doing it.