Mercury Retrograde Survival Guide: 10 Things to STOP Doing
Surviving Mercury Retrograde? Stop the chaos now. Our guide reveals the 10 things you MUST stop doing—from sending texts to signing contracts—to avoid classic retrograde disasters.
Alright, cosmic bestie. It’s that time of year… Let’s have the talk.
You’ve felt it, haven’t you? Convos that start off light ending up with a super heavy, dramatic tone… Your phone and computer suddenly deleting that things randomly. Your ex popping up in your DMs like a ghost from 2017. Your computer crashing right before you hit “save” on a project you’ve been working on for hours….
Sound familiar? That’s Mercury Retrograde!
But here’s the secret: Surviving Mercury Retrograde isn't about what you start doing—it's about what you STOP doing.
Consider this your official red flag 🚩 notice to press STOP on the chaos. These aren't gentle suggestions; they are your non-negotiable rules for the next few weeks. Let's dive in.
You’ve typed it out. It’s a masterpiece of pent-up frustration. You’re hovering over the send button, feeling the power surge through your veins. STOP. RIGHT. THERE.
Under this retrograde, your beautifully crafted message will be misread. Your tone will be misinterpreted. What you intend as firm will be read as furious. Save it as a draft. Sleep on it. Thank yourself later when the cosmos isn’t actively sabotaging your communication.
Thinking of signing a new lease, a job contract, or buying a car? PUMP THE BRAKES.
With Mercury in reverse, the fine print is your enemy. Hidden clauses, misunderstandings about terms, and last-minute changes are almost guaranteed. If you absolutely cannot wait, have three different people read it over. But honestly? Just delay it if you can. Your future, less-stressed self will send you a thank-you.
STORY TIME: I have personally witness several friends sign major contracts on leases and renovation projects only to have them experience massive issues with their homes. So PLEASE refrain from committing!
This is not the time to be lazy with your digital life. STOP skipping your backups. STOP ignoring those software update notifications (but maybe wait to install them until the retrograde ends—see point 10!). STOP trusting that your phone won’t suddenly decide to factory reset itself.
Back up your photos, your documents, your entire life to an external hard drive. Do it now!
Trying to rigidly stick to a minute-by-minute schedule during Mercury Retrograde is like trying to nail Jell-O to a wall—messy and pointless. STOP over-scheduling.
Travel plans will flip, meetings will reschedule, and misunderstandings about times and places will abound. Build in buffer time. Practice saying the magic words: "Let's keep it flexible."
Mercury Retrograde has a favorite prefix, and it’s "RE". This is your clue! Instead of fighting the energy, STOP forcing new beginnings and lean into flow.
This is a cosmic do-over, not a punishment. Use it.
The telephone game is in full effect. A story passes through two people and suddenly, "I might get coffee" becomes "They're getting married!" STOP taking everything you hear at face value.
Miscommunication is the name of the game. Go directly to the source for clarification. And for the love of the cosmos, don’t spread rumors. The retrograde will expose the truth, and you don't want to be on the wrong side of it.
That brilliant, million-dollar business idea that hit you at 3 AM? STOP. Write it down, put it in a drawer, and let it marinate.
Launching anything new under a retrograde is like trying to build a house on quicksand. The foundation is shaky. Wait until Mercury goes direct to actually begin after November 29. Use this time for planning and research instead.
Mercury Retrograde DOES NOT… I repeat DOES NOT want you to get back together with your ex. If they pop back up, ask yourself why? What lesson did you NOT learn? This isn’t a rekindling of romance! This is meant to be closure, repair, the real goodbye 👋 you need.
Mercury retrograde does NOT want you to go back to a dumpster fire of a relationship!
Does it feel like whatever is being said is hitting a bit too personal and perhaps you’re feeling the itch to have a word and say your peace? STOP.
This is a period of crossed wires. Take a breath before you react. Choose your battles wisely. Not every misunderstanding needs to turn into a World War. Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can say is, "Okay." and turn that focus back onto yourself.
This is the most important rule. STOP fighting the natural up and down flow of life. Mercury Retrograde is going to do what it does. Glitches will happen. Plans will change.
Give yourself and everyone around you a massive break. A little grace and a sense of humor are your best survival tools. Laugh at the mis-sent email. Shrug when your delivery is late. It’s not a sign that your life is falling apart; it’s just life doing it’s thing.
So there you have it. Your 10 commandments for the retrograde. It all boils down to this: Slow down, double-check, and don't force it.
This isn't a cursed time—it's a cosmic course correction. It’s the universe forcing you to review, rethink, and release what isn't working. So embrace the pause.