Great to see Astrological writings on this platform!
Some good recommendations here for dealing with this phenomena.
An alternative perspective I developed from my own experiences with Merc retrograde is that the things that break down during this period are things that hinder communication with the higher-self. Anything that you are over-reliant upon or is 'false'may be disrupted so that the Uranian aspect of consciousness can seep through; given that Mercury serves as a bridge to both Jupiter - the intuitive mind- and Uranus - the supra-mind.
When retrograde, Mercury may draw attention to modes of communication that no longer serve the goal of evolution, or that need to be purified and refined for growth to remain unfettered.
Yeah, I agree! If something isn't working during this period it gives you time to re-evaluate what you really should be doing or focusing on for your ultimate higher good