[jlarocco]

Sounds like a self-imposed problem. Why do you "need" a smart phone because you live in a city? A lot of people would disagree with you.

Anyway, I don't know about Android, but it's easy to turn off notifications in iOS, and the notification settings for every app are all in one section of the global phone settings:

https://cdn1.tekrevue.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/disable...

[atomical]

I needed a smart phone when I moved to the city for maps and train schedules. At the time I moved it was just after a snow storm and hunting for parking was very difficult. I used the maps and GPS functionality to guide me back into the area I lived when I strayed too far. It definitely helped with the stress.