Phoners and Non-Phoners

Dear Patient,

When someone comes to my clinic for acupuncture, they check in at the front desk, then go to the treatment room and get settled in a chair. A few minutes later, I roll up on my stool and begin my work. If I’m running behind, maybe it’s five or ten minutes.

I’ve noticed that people usually do one of two things while they're waiting for me: they’re either on their phone, or they’re not. I call them Phoners and Non-Phoners.

The Phoners spend their pre-treatment time scrolling through social media, or sending a quick text, or checking email, or queuing up a podcast to listen to—basically squeezing in a few minutes of productivity before their treatment begins. The Non-Phoners just lie there.

The Non-Phoners don’t get anything "done" before their treatment. But the tradeoff is that they’re usually more relaxed by the time I roll over. Their pulse has slowed. Sometimes they’re already asleep. It’s like they’ve gotten a head start on their treatment. So who’s really being more productive?

Busyness does not equal productivity. Sometimes the most productive thing we can do is close our eyes and be still.

Love and gratitude,

Your Acupuncturist