What I find most valuable in what you shared is your focus. Initially, it all arose from a need, but you quickly realized that you hadn't adopted this new routine or habit, as you mention, solely because of the results you initially obtained.
In my case, I didn't really have the habit of writing more consistently. I didn't do it in a creative way, let alone in a way that helped me organize my thoughts. My writing was limited to making shopping lists, organizing my schedule, or even filling out forms. I had some reading habits, more than writing and meditation.
Since August this year, after a retreat I did in the southeast of France, I have made some changes in my life. One of the most effective was to stop watching the news or any kind of content on television. I didn't do it very intensively before August, but it was my company, since I live alone.
When I woke up, after washing my face and brushing my teeth, while preparing breakfast in my French press, I would turn on the television to the news channel (24 hours) and simply listen to all that information. I might not have been completely focused on what was being reported, but I wasn't paying attention to the process of preparing my breakfast either, or focusing on myself and what I had to do at the moment.
Nowadays, I don't watch television at all. Only maybe a few minutes if my mother comes to visit me at home. She is used to that company, and I don't want to deprive her of that habit.
As the time I used to spend listening/watching and simply being asleep in that task is no longer used, I have much more time for myself. In other words, it opened the door for me to have time to think more about what I'm doing, or even to read or listen to something more attentively.
Writing ultimately organizes my life, my thoughts, and helps me to be a better person in the moment. I am more present. I pay more attention to those around me and to myself.
The period before writing is very important in my case. I have become accustomed to the “discomfort” of having nothing to stimulate me. Of having to live with my thoughts. Ideas emerge suddenly. It's amazing how something that would be expected to be monotonous becomes so valuable and full of content.
We just have to open the door to our minds. And for a few months now, I've been able to do that through writing.
Pretty much everyone should do this, or severely limit it. It is a killer of mind and creativity. Passive consumption in general, especially when it doesn't inspire action or has no active follow-up path, kills creative juices.
When the distractions are gone, we have so much space. Many seem to fear the quiet of their mind, or what thoughts might arise - so they pick up a screen to distract themselves instead of discovering themselves.
This is awesome! I discovered the same years ago when I started this journey. No going back. Life is too interesting.