November Mercury retrograde hacks: What boosts productivity — and what to ditch

It’s the most maligned time of the year, folks.

Mercury retrograde is here to throw a wrench, elbow and faux pas into your best-laid plans for peace and merriment this holiday season.

Because Mercury governs communication and commerce, its retrograde cycle has a direct bearing on both our personal and professional lives.

Contrary to the terminology, Mercury and other planets do not ever move backward in space; they merely slow down, a deceleration that looks like a reversal from our vantage on Earth.

When a planet is retrograde, its energy works in the opposite direction, not necessarily against us but certainly not as a trusted sidekick. As Mercury rules the mind, its retrograde signifies a period of challenge in organizing, expressing and creating order in our lives.

When is Mercury retrograde?

The final Mercury retrograde of 2024 begins on Monday, Nov. 25, and extends through Dec. 15.

This retrograde falls in the mutable fires of Sagittarius, and this rodeo is primed to feel more disruptive than others due to the calendar crossover of year-end work deadlines, pre-holiday stress, familiar obligations, career expectations and the peak days of seasonal affective disorder.

According to a recent study by EduBirdie, 62% of Gen Z and millennials tweak their work routines in honor of this chaotic transit.

Read on to learn more about the hacks that help and the choices that harm.

Refresh your space, reset your mind

One in three Gen Z and millennials report that a clean, relaxing environment helps them feel centered amid the destabilizing energy of Mercury retrograde.

As Mercury rules the mind, decluttering your space can equate to clearing mental cobwebs. Clutter, much like Mercury’s hijinx, can increase the risk of developing a mood disorder, stunt creativity, decrease productivity, diminish energy and interfere with concentration and decision-making.

Conversely, a serene space with soothing elements like warm lighting, plants, soft music and aromatherapy diffusers elevates and supports mental processing.

Bonus: Plants can remove toxins from indoor air. Get clear, get cozy and build your own safe port in the celestial storm.

Practice patience — but not procrastination

Mercury retrograde is infamous for causing delays, the accidental transmission of nudes and other regrettable miscommunications.

EduBirdie found that 25% of the young workforce set flexible deadlines and install a kind of professional buffer to reduce the stress associated with Mercury retrograde.

Some take the precaution further by postponing meetings and rescheduling crucial calls.

Avery Morgan, a productivity expert and chief communications officer at EduBirdie, says, “Procrastination can slip in if you pause your workflow too often. Since retrogrades are frequent, a better approach is to listen more, stay composed, and maintain open communication with colleagues in those meetings.”

Further, Mercury retrograde is an ideal time to revise or revisit an existing personal project or collaboration. Leaning in rather than dropping out is the name of the game, folks.

Back it up, baby

Mercury is also the domain of technology — when the trickster planet slows down, machines and tech notoriously act up. Prevention equals protection during these trying times, so dedicate a few minutes to saving essential work files on an external hard drive or cloud service.

Avoid embarrassing typos or the melee of an errant reply-all by building in extra time to proofread before you fully send.

Choose self-care — skip self-sabotage

Twenty percent of Gen Z and millennial workers avoid making significant decisions or commitments during Mercury retrograde, with 12% admitting to calling in sick to avoid stress, a tactic Morgan calls “letting the chaos win.”

She advises, “While avoiding major decisions is a great move, avoiding work altogether isn’t the answer. Instead, focus on activities that recharge you. Incorporate daily self-care rituals like journaling, meditating or walking to clear your head. Taking regular breaks instead of a full day off is the ultimate game-changer.”

Astrology 101: Your guide to the star

Astrologer Reda Wigle researches and irreverently reports back on planetary configurations and their effect on each zodiac sign. Her horoscopes integrate history, poetry, pop culture, and personal experience. To book a reading, visit her website.