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.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.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...