Osteo Rebel Rule #4: Buffer time isn’t wasted time ⏳

We’ve come to the final week of my September Rebel Series — where I’ve been sharing the “rules” I’ve broken in practice, and how they’ve actually made me a stronger, freer practitioner.
This week’s rebel move?
Osteo Rebel Rule #4: Buffer time isn’t wasted time.
Up until this summer, I’d always worked in 30-minute blocks. For 15 years, that’s what I offered. It’s what I knew. And I’d convinced myself that was the most “efficient” way to practice.
When I went solo, I finally stopped to reflect on what was really working for me… and what wasn’t.
And the truth? Back-to-back 30s left me feeling rushed. I’d been living by this self-imposed rule that I needed to see as many people as possible — and that any buffer time was wasted, unpaid time.
But here’s what I’ve learned: that “rule” was garbage.
Yes, I’ve streamlined my admin (Jane Payments + Jane AI Scribe = actual lifesavers). Those tools save me hours each week and thousands in admin costs. But the biggest shift in my practice has come from the thing I once avoided most: buffer time.
I raised my rates to account for it (something a lot of practitioners think you can’t do… spoiler: you absolutely can!).
Now, in between patients, I’m:
- grounding myself
- resetting my treatment room
- finishing my charts on the spot
- and intentionally creating a healing space that feels potent.
- And I’m charging for the energy I put into every single patient — before, during, and after their appointment.
No one is ever waiting on me anymore — even if the person before them got stuck in traffic. I feel present, steady, and I’m genuinely enjoying the pace of my day more than I ever have.
Sure, a few people weren’t thrilled that my rates went up (for the second time this year) — and I’ve happily referred them on. But the vast majority of my patients have noticed the shift:
✨ Our talks go deeper.
✨ Our time together feels more special.
✨ And I. Feel. GREAT.
Not because I’m running overtime — but because I’m not rushing, and neither are they.
And it’s not just my patients. Whether I’m grabbing groceries, in the drive-thru, or just out downtown, strangers keep telling me I have such great “energy” and that I must be in a good mood. And honestly? I couldn’t agree more.
Turns out, buffer time wasn’t wasted at all. It was the key to creating a practice that feels sustainable — for me and for them.
✨ Rebel Homework:
- Look at your schedule this week.
- Create just one pocket of 10–15 minutes of buffer time.
- Use it to breathe, reset your room, or simply not rush.
- Notice how it changes the energy of your day — and how your patients respond.
🎤 Rebel Series Wrap-Up
This month I’ve shared 4 of my biggest “rule breaks” as a practitioner:
- Don’t let anyone decide if you’re good enough — the only truth that matters is yours.
- Don’t wear what doesn’t feel like you — scrubs are great if you love them, but you can wear whatever makes you happy.
- Talk about money — even debt, because silence is what really hurts us.
- Buffer time isn’t wasted — slowing down makes us better, not worse.
Breaking these rules hasn’t made me less professional. It’s made me more me. And the more I’ve allowed myself to practice in a way that feels true, the stronger my results, my business, and my joy have become.
So here’s your invitation: which “rule” are you ready to break next?
✨ Thanks for being a rebel with me this September 💫 — I’ve loved sharing this journey with you. Here’s to breaking the rules that never served us, and creating practices (and lives) that actually feel good.
With love + rebellion,
Gen 💫
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