Help! My reality check doesn't work anymore

I do reality checks randomly throughout the day, at least 2-3 times per day, almost daily since around December 2025.

I always start with trying to breathe while pinching my nose, followed by counting my fingers and finally pushing any of the right hand finger onto the palm of my left hand.

I have probably experienced around 6-7 lucid dreams since then. I realized I was in a dream due to the fact that I could breathe with my nose pinched for all instances.

Last night, I did a reality check and I couldn't breathe. Then I counted my fingers and there were 5 BUT they were crooked and bent the wrong way. I thought to myself, surely I am in a dream but then doubted myself (due fear of doing something harmful if done in reality like jumping down a window to try and fly). Later on, I woke up and realized it WAS a dream.

Any other reality check ideas? The problem is my dreams are SO vivid and it is hard to tell the dream from reality.

Side note: All of my lucid dreams start in my room and have always have a few "inception" before actually waking up. What's up with that?