Yeah, "kicked my butt" is right. I had to learn the same lesson the hard way (my trail rating hubris did not end well).

Actually, checking your phone every five minutes can mess up your trail rhythm too! The real trick is stopping at every trail junction to look, even if you think you know the way. That way you stay aware without breaking your flow every few minutes. My rule is to verify at any fork or marked post, then put the phone away and just hike. It keeps you on track without making the whole trip about staring at a screen.

Missing the obvious happens to everyone though. It's not like a major flaw in how you work, just part of being human. Calling it a serious problem seems like overkill.

Why does public art make people fight?