Brace yourself: Mercury retrograde is once again officially around the corner, and that means chaos is about to reign. There are three Mercury retrogrades in 2025, all which spell disruption in the realms of communication and travel, so anticipate typo-packed emails, misunderstood messages and many delayed trains. 

But don’t panic too much: there are ways to survive this rocky period. Ahead you’ll find your need-to-know guide to all things Mercury retrograde. 

The times when Mercury appears to go backwards occur every 88 days (the length of the planet’s cycle around the sun), meaning you usually get three retrogrades in a year.

You’ve got three Mercury retrogrades to prepare for this year. The first begins on 14 March until 6 April, then 17 July to 10 August and finally 9 November until 29 November.

Astrology fans believe that Mercury retrograde affects us all, regardless of our star signs. Because Mercury is the planet thought to rule communication, travel and logical thinking, when it goes retrograde, these are the areas it affects negatively. 

This means that throughout Mercury retrograde, you might experience issues with communication – think crossed wires in conversations, accidentally missing an important work email, WhatsApping the person you were bitching about rather than the mate you intended; travel – missed flights, train delays, your favourite shoes falling apart; and logical thinking – emotions may be heightened, so thinking rationally can be tough.

You’re not doomed to a terrible few weeks, of course, but things might just be a little… trickier, particularly in these areas. The good news is there are ways to navigate it. 

Give yourself more time for travel 

If you know a journey usually takes an hour, perhaps give yourself a little bit of a cushion on either side. Leave 15 minutes earlier than you think. 

Why? Because Mercury retrograde has a rep for really messing with all things travel related. Expect cancelled buses, trains stuck at stations and a puncture in your bike tyre. Giving yourself a little extra time in case of any bumps in the road will lessen the stress. 

Triple check all messages 

Mercury retrograde also tends to mess with communication. To avoid any mishaps, make this a time you’re super stringent with checking, checking and checking one more time. That goes for emails, texts, WhatsApps, the lot. Watch out for embarrassing typos, important emails landing in your spam folder, and texts sent to the wrong people. Better safe than sorry.

Don’t have any big, important conversations during this time

On the topic of communication, perhaps consider holding any big, important chats until Mercury’s back to normal. This is a time when misinterpretation is rife and communication might hit blocks. 

Triple check all your travel tickets and timings

We’ve already warned you about travel issues, but here’s a reminder. Have a proper look at any booked tickets and planned trips to ensure you’ve got everything nailed. If there’s a time when you’ll turn up for a flight on the wrong day, it’s Mercury retrograde. 

Remain calm

Please remember that all this Mercury retrograde chat is highly theoretical, and could well be total nonsense. Even if it actually does have an impact, stressing about the potential chaos won’t help matters. Don’t catastrophise, don’t assume everything’s doomed, and take some time for deep, slow, calming breaths when any issues rear their head. Remain laidback and you’ll be far better equipped to deal with whatever mix-ups occur. 

Do a digital detox day

On the note of bad communication, perhaps Mercury retrograde is a good time to down tools and steer clear of social media and screens, where there’s potential for things to go badly. Always nice to have an excuse for a phone-free day, right? 

Reminisce and reflect

The clue’s in the name: the retrograde also brings a ‘blast from the past’ energy. It’s a great time to reminisce on good times and reflect on what you’ve learned. Rather than taking action during Mercury retrograde, have some space to think back over the past… and brace yourself for long-gone exes and friends to make an appearance, as that often happens during retrogrades, too. 

Embrace the challenge

Look, sometimes things go wrong, retrograde or no retrograde. Accepting this is a key first step in better dealing with stress, but the next step is embracing it. When things don’t go to plan, consider what you can learn as a result. Pat yourself on the back for overcoming struggles. Take on the challenges in your path as a chance to display your problem-solving skills and resilience. You’ve got this. 

Main image: Getty