Since it seems like the problem was certain apps rather than habits I’m going to go out on a limb and assume it was social media, in which case deleting all your accounts would have been a more productive option.

I’ m all for digital minimalism but the whole point is to give yourself more peace of mind. Tearing my teeth out because I can’t interact with modern society seems like the opposite of this.

A better solution might be to use an Apple Watch/iPad combo. Leave the iPhone in a drawer for emergencies, use the Apple Watch primarily for P2P communication (which you will turn on and off out of habit to save battery) and then use an iPad for the bigger stuff. It’s an inherently larger device and less likely to be brought out every 5 minutes to refresh a social feed or play a game.