A Mercury Retrograde Survival Guide

How to pass the time until Mercury turns direct.

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So, perhaps you've heard that Mercury is in retrograde. We want to help you get through it.

If you don't yet know what Mercury retrograde means, here's a good primer.

If you need to know, at any given moment, if Mercury is in retrograde, here's a good way to find out.

If you know what it is, or have FELT what it is, here are some things you might try to help make the whole disastrous process easier on yourself.

1. Turn off your phone for a couple days.

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Or, fine, at LEAST one. Mercury retrograde is notorious for scrambling our communications, so take yourself ~off the grid~ for as long as you can stand it. Give yourself a break.

2. Make a list/Pinterest board of things you want to buy once Mercury goes direct.

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Mercury retrograde is not a great time to shop. You might spend too much on something that will only go on sale days later, or you might impulse purchase an outfit you'll NEVER wear. Now's not the time to splurge. So instead, make note of a few little things you want to buy. If you still want them when Mercury goes direct, go for it. You deserve it.

3. Spend some time perfecting a family recipe. (Or one from Martha Stewart.)

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This is a great time to work on a slow, thoughtful, solo activity — cooking and baking are both great options. Learning to cook something new will give you something to do with your hands, and is a great way to take the focus off the stresses of Mercury retrograde.

4. Extend the olive branch.

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Mercury retrograde is known for making people want to resurface, so if there's an unnecessary grudge you're holding, why not take this opportunity to reach out? Think of this as a time for clearing up past misunderstandings, not just having new ones.

5. On the other hand, don't feel like you HAVE to mend fences.

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If someone from your past reaches out to YOU this Mercury retrograde, don't feel any extra pressure to give them your time and attention. Mercury bridge-building has to be mutual.

6. Meditate.

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You don't have to sit cross-legged, or be in a sunlit field, but you can still take a few minutes to let your mind wander. Mercury retrograde can be stressful, and you deserve to take some time to think about nothing. We like the free Calm app, especially just before going to bed.

7. Have some friends over for a low-key dinner party.

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No need to spend lots of money or time on it — keep it casual and low-maintenance. Ask everyone to bring a dish. Mercury retrograde is a stressful time, and this isn't about adding work to your plate. This is about spending time with your close friends, people who understand you and whom you understand. No chance for miscommunication here.

8. Buy a book of crossword puzzles.

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In the mixed-up mess of feelings and thoughts and words that is Mercury retrograde, it can be extremely soothing to find a space that allows you to put a bunch of small things in their appropriate places.

9. Take a hike instead of going online.

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Before you end up on Facebook leaving angry comments on an extended family member's status, head outside for a nice, long walk — preferably somewhere you haven't been before. Everything will chug along fine without you for a few hours.

10. Wait at *least* 15 minutes before responding to any text message.

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Unless you're dealing with a true emergency, take your time — mixed signals abound while Mercury is retrograde, and you don't want to find your foot in your mouth. It's already easy to misread the tone of a text message; make sure you take a few extra minutes with it now.