While I think smartphones absolutely do "hijack" our attention on a daily basis given arguments from Neil Postman & Nicolas Carr to name a couple, I think that

While I think smartphones absolutely do "hijack" our attention on a daily basis given arguments from Neil Postman & Nicolas Carr to name a couple, I think that removing it completely from life will just have your attention directed into something else. It is awareness and mindfulness that helps you direct your attention to meaning, regardless of technology. The fun part about these conscious experiments is that they can be even more profound the second time around doing them. You realize it's not necessarily the device/tool, but rather the mindfulness you have now developed with it.