Hello, I have been wondering what the difference is between ADA and self awareness. All I've been doing is reality checks since I started lucid dreaming and I figured awareness is important but I don't know which one to do.

Right now I ask myself, "am I dreaming" and I observe my surroundings, ask myself where i was before this and then do my RC's. Is this ADA or self awareness?

Then sometimes I just focus on what I am experiencing, ie. my senses, what I am doing right now. Which technique is this?

My last question is which one is better for beginners and if you could do both? Sorry if this is a lot, I have had some LD's and I want to have them more often/consistently. Thanks