I'm just starting out and I have a question or 2

This isnt entirely new to me, I used to research these things like crazy when I was younger but I was never able to stick to the routine and would often find my self forgetting to write down dreams and now I’m a little older and I think I will be able to do this now. I was wondering if theres anything in particular I should be doing to start out with, I know keeping a dream journal is important, I’m not in a rush to lucid dream more just to begin to remember everything. Is keeping a dream journal all I should do for now and then try other things later once I am able to recall dreams more effectivly?

Start reality checking on a regular basis, it is important for you to get lucid. Also, you could start exploring possible techniques.