Mercury turning retrograde on December 13th doesn't mean you should stop what you're doing and dive for cover. Planets reversing direction in the sky are no different from changing weather patterns. There are plenty of people who carry on with their day-to-day business through rain or snow by preparing for it ahead of time. For you, this means backing up all electronic devices, checking under the hood to make sure things are OK, and adding two weeks to any given deadline in case of delay. Be proactive during this period your Ruling Planet is traveling backward, and you'll see major headaches downgraded to minor inconveniences.