I've done something similar. I disabled Safari on my iPhone. I've also set forwards on important mail to my icloud account which has push on the iPhone. This way if I do receive an important email, I'll answer or call immediately. Freeing myself of apps and Safari has made me more productive but now I wonder why I even need a Smartphone. The only apps I use now are Notes, Mail, Maps and the Music player. I'll admit one part of the reason why I removed all these apps is depression. Productivity is not my primary reason, but it has had a great benefit.
I found myself wasting time watching youtube videos and playing games on my phone while in bed. I did this for a while, rarely leaving my room. I hoped to force myself out of bed by firstly removing these distractions. After that, it was a matter of willpower, I suppose. Not having something to fiddle with while in bed helped me get out. That's just one example. To explain further is rather difficult.
