There is so much hype around Mercury Retrograde, and much of it focuses on only one side of the story.
Mercury Retrograde is often portrayed as something to dread—a season of delays, miscommunications, and endless “don’ts.” Don’t buy a car. Don’t sign a contract. Don’t start a new project. Don’t text your ex.
While there can be truth in some of those cautions, they don’t tell the whole story.
Mercury Retrograde is also a brilliant time for resetting. It isn’t necessarily the ideal season for charging ahead with something brand new, but it is an excellent time to prepare the foundation for what comes next. It invites us to slow down, revisit what we’ve overlooked, and get our lives back into alignment.
There is something surprisingly magical about moving at a slower pace and being more intentional. Mercury Retrograde has a way of forcing us to pause, but if we lean into that energy rather than resist it, we can accomplish quite a bit.
Over the years, I’ve come to view Mercury Retrograde less as a season of frustration and more as a season of refinement. It is a time to clean up loose ends, reconnect with what matters, and create space for future growth.
Here are five things I love to do during Mercury Retrograde.
1. Organize Your Life
If there is one activity Mercury Retrograde seems perfectly designed for, it’s organizing.
Clutter—whether physical, digital, or mental—has a way of piling up. This season offers an opportunity to clear away the excess and create systems that support you moving forward.
Clean Up Your Inbox
Go through your email and sort messages into folders. Archive what you no longer need, unsubscribe from newsletters that no longer serve you, and clear out the digital noise.
A clean inbox makes communication easier and helps prevent important messages from getting lost.
Organize Your Computer and Phone
Mercury Retrograde is the perfect time to tackle digital clutter.
Create folders, organize documents, delete old files, and back up important information. Clean up your apps, sort your photos, and remove anything you no longer use.
You’ll not only find things more easily—you may even notice your devices running more smoothly.
Refresh Your Closets and Storage Spaces
Closets seem to become chaotic overnight.
Take some time to sort through clothing, toys, storage bins, and miscellaneous items. Donate what you no longer need, wipe down shelves, vacuum the floors, and enjoy the peace that comes from an organized space.
Review Your Finances
Mercury Retrograde can be a wonderful time to revisit your budget and financial systems.
Review subscriptions, automate savings, adjust payment schedules, and identify areas where your money may be slipping through the cracks. Small changes now can create long-term benefits later.
2. Give Your Car Some Love
Transportation issues are one of the most commonly discussed Mercury Retrograde themes.
Instead of worrying about what might go wrong, use this time proactively.
Schedule that oil change you’ve been putting off. Rotate the tires. Replace worn windshield wipers. Address minor repairs before they become major headaches.
A little maintenance now can save you stress later.
3. Finish Unfinished Projects
How many half-completed projects are sitting around waiting for your attention?
A painting tucked into a corner. Shelves waiting to be hung. A business idea that’s mostly finished but needs a final push.
Mercury Retrograde is often associated with revisiting and completing rather than beginning. This makes it an excellent time to tie up loose ends and finally cross lingering projects off your list.
There is something deeply satisfying about finishing what you’ve already started.
4. Reach Out and Reconnect
Mercury Retrograde gets a bad reputation for bringing people from the past back into our lives.
While the internet loves to joke about exes resurfacing, there is another side to this energy.
Think about the friend you’ve been meaning to call. The family member you’ve lost touch with. The relationship that matters but has taken a back seat to life’s responsibilities.
Use this season to reconnect with the people who enrich your life and support your growth.
Tend to your tribe.
5. Rest and Replenish
Perhaps the most important item on this list is also the simplest.
Rest.
Our culture often glorifies constant productivity, but periods of rest are necessary. Mercury Retrograde naturally encourages a slower pace, making it an ideal time to recharge.
Read a book. Take a long bath. Spend an afternoon doing absolutely nothing. Watch your favorite comfort show. Sit quietly with a cup of tea.
Give yourself permission to replenish your energy.
A Different Way to View Mercury Retrograde
Despite all the warnings and endless lists of things to avoid, Mercury Retrograde doesn’t have to be a season of frustration.
It can be a season of refinement.
A season of revisiting, reorganizing, repairing, reconnecting, and resting.
When we work with the energy of Mercury Retrograde instead of fighting against it, we often emerge feeling more grounded, more organized, and more prepared for what comes next.
Rather than dreading Mercury Retrograde, consider welcoming it as an invitation to slow down, realign, and create space for growth.