Artemis II: 3 stellar healthy living lessons from NASA’s astronauts

Introducing our new lifestyle series focused on issues that affect you in your personal life, as we understand that what happens at home can directly affect your ability to manage your business. Whether it’s your health, your family, your financial future, we’ve got you covered. At the end of the day, we all work to be free to live, to accomplish our goals, spend time with loved ones, and enjoy our passions. And to work well, you need to be healthy, happy, and focused. Let us help with that.

For nearly a fortnight in April, the world was captivated by four astronauts travelling at 40,000 km/h as they slingshotted around the moon and back to Earth. It marked our return after 53 years — and the first time a female or minority astronaut made that journey.

It’s an extraordinary achievement. Not just of technology, but of people. Four individuals pushing their physical and mental limits to turn something once unimaginable into reality.

And that’s the point: performance starts with people.

Your health matters. Just as astronauts need to be fit enough to endure the rigours of space travel — and composed enough to sit atop a rocket — you need to be healthy enough to run your business. If your energy, focus, and wellbeing suffer, everything else follows.

Remember: your health is an investment, not an expense.

Read on to discover three stellar lessons from NASA’s astronauts to help you stay at your best. So, you can spend more time saying, “we have lift off” and less time saying “Houston, we have a problem.”

1.    A healthy body helps you handle anything

The human body wasn’t exactly built for space. In microgravity, muscles weaken, bone density drops, and the cardiovascular system deconditions.

Astronauts also deal with fluid shifts, disrupted balance, increased radiation exposure, and even vision changes. That’s before you factor in the mental strain of working in a confined, high-risk environment with the same small group of people.

In short: space is tough on the body and mind.

Yet, astronauts don’t leave their fitness to chance. They prepare for years, and once in space, they continue to train every single day. Exercise isn’t optional, it’s essential.

They also eat right too. Like a rocket, your body needs the right fuel to perform. That means regular meals, balanced nutrition, and avoiding the temptation to run on caffeine and junk food alone.

As New Scientist puts it, space travel mimics “accelerated ageing.” The strain astronauts experience reflects what many people face through inactivity, injury, or long periods at a desk.

The difference? Astronauts actively work to counter it.

Their approach is holistic. It’s not just about strength — it’s mobility, flexibility, endurance, balance, and coordination. Every system matters.

For you, that means weaving movement into your day. Not just a one-off gym session, but consistent activity. Find time to:

• Walk regularly

• Stretch at your desk

• Build in short bursts of exercise

• Vary how you move.

  
  

Small, consistent actions make a big difference over time.

You’re the astronaut, prepare yourself for life, and you’ll keep on flying all the way to the moon.

2.    Rest. Recuperate. Reboot ready for the mission of the day

Sleep is one of the most powerful tools you have…and one of the most overlooked.

It supports recovery, reduces stress, strengthens the immune system, and improves focus, memory, and creativity. It’s also one of the simplest ways to avoid burnout.

Astronauts take sleep seriously. Despite operating in one of the most demanding environments imaginable, NASA schedules eight to nine hours of sleep each day. They use controlled lighting, quiet sleeping pods, and routines designed to maximise rest.

Why? Because fatigue leads to mistakes and in space, mistakes matter.

The same applies in business. Poor sleep affects your decision-making, productivity, and emotional resilience. Over time, it takes a real toll.

If astronauts can prioritise sleep while orbiting the Earth, it’s worth asking: what’s stopping you?

And rest goes beyond sleep. It includes:

• Mental rest (stepping away from demanding tasks)

• Sensory rest (taking breaks from screens and noise)

• Emotional rest (talking things through instead of bottling them up)

• Social rest (giving yourself space from others when needed)

• Creative rest (engaging with things that inspire you).

  
  

Without proper rest, stress builds, focus drops, and performance suffers.

Balance isn’t a luxury, it’s a requirement.

3.    Don’t forget a healthy mind is needed to face pressure and stress

Astronaut Chris Hadfield once said: “Half of the risk of a six-month mission is in the first nine minutes.”

That’s the intensity they operate under. To perform in those conditions, astronauts train their minds as rigorously as their bodies. They need to stay calm under pressure, communicate clearly, and work effectively as a team — often in close quarters for extended periods (imagine having your co-workers as roommates).

NASA invests heavily in mental preparation. Astronauts go through group training, psychological support, and scenario planning to build resilience before they ever leave Earth.

They also use practical tools to manage stress, such as:

• Breathing techniques to stay calm

• Open communication to resolve issues early

• Regular contact with loved ones

• Finding time for small joys that bring comfort and normality.

It’s not about avoiding pressure, it’s about carefully managing it.

Don’t let yourself burnout trying to make your business a success. It’s a surefire way to guarantee a crashlanding.

Instead, take time to work on yourself mentally, find time for release, and make sure that when you tackle work it’s with a clear mind and full focus.

Be proactive, not reactive — get in touch today!

Astronauts don’t wait for problems to occur; they proactively work on stopping them happening. That’s the same for their mission and their health. They take steps to boost their wellbeing and then monitor their ongoing health, so they’re not caught off-guard.

Doing the same for your own health, as well as your business, could be incredibly beneficial in the long term.

If you need advice, business support, or want to explore how funding could get your business on the right track, our team are here to help. Simply get in touch by completing an enquiry form or by giving us a call at 0345 602 7355.

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Remember: Think like an astronaut. Dream big. Plan carefully. Shoot for the stars.

Success, whether in space or in business, relies on the same thing: a healthy, capable, and focused human at the centre of it all.

As astronaut Victor Glover put it:

“You are special, in all of this emptiness…you have this oasis, this beautiful place that we get to exist together.”

Look after yourself. The rest has a way of following.