If you find your mind darting from one thing to the next and struggling to concentrate for even short periods of time, there are two things to know. First, you’re not alone and, second, it’s probably related to technology. 

In an article published at Motherboard, Kaleigh Rogers described her experiment banning all screens from her home for a month: no TV, no tablet, no smartphones, no computers. 

The results were dramatic and, unlike with exercise or dieting, immediate. She experienced better concentration, found more time in her day, felt closer in her relationships, and gained a renewed sense of creativity. A Facebook commenter who conducted the same experiment described an almost “superhuman” focus and productivity. 

Screens have profoundly shaped our lives, especially our minds and relationships. We need not be Luddites, but we can create boundaries and stick to them. Rather than allowing notifications, games, and texts to control our schedules and attention, we can control them, making time for relationships, concentration, and creativity. That doesn’t sound so superhuman …  

This Point was originally published on February 14, 2017.