In my experience, just avoiding the things listed as distractions doesn't have the desired outcome (which I read as the ability to really lose yourself in the experiences of being wherever you are).

Even if it's only used for utilitarian purposes, the care and feeding necessary if you land in a different country with a mobile phone is pretty high:

- find a SIM card shop

- research which card/plan meets your needs

- pay, screw around with it until you understand how to activate it

- in countries with weak infrastructure, spend lots of unplanned time finding a signal and waiting on slow data

- a quick internet search for bus routes or whatever often turns into standing on the corner for 45 minutes oblivious to everything around you.

- making sure to keep it charged, bring a backup power bank, etc.

- deal with reloading it with more money once the data runs out, which can often sink a few hours or more in remote places.

All that said, I'm still not giving up my phone the next time I travel but I do often resent the amount of time it takes to deal with one.