Lucid but still a bystander

For the second time in a row now, I became aware in my dream that I’m dreaming which did bring some comic relief to pretty bleak situation, but I was still unable or aware enough to make any meaningful changes to the setting and characters within the dream.

Should I be setting a specific plan before bed for the locations and people I want to visit in the dream as a go-to, instead of just winging it and coming up with no ideas in the moment of cool things to do?