The Overview Effect: An Astronaut’s Astonishing Antidote to Loneliness
And how you can easily replicate it — no ticket to space required.
It’s the most merciless environment you could possibly imagine.
Extreme radiation. Temperature differences of 275°F. Meteorite hazard. Zero oxygen. An infinitely dark vacuum. But the toughest part about space — as veteran astronaut Scott Kelly once said — is “being away from your loved ones, your friends, your family.”
Space is a breeding ground for loneliness. And considering that loneliness is as deadly as smoking, obesity, and lack of exercise, the logical result should be that astronauts wither in space like plants without water.
And yet, they survive.
Not just that, they flourish. An overwhelming number of interviews by astronauts suggest that they return from space feeling anything but depressed and lonely. They feel transformed, ecstatic, and in awe.
How is that even possible?
Sure, astronauts undergo intense preparation. They form tight bonds with their teammates, wield state-of-the-art technology, and find fulfillment in their work. But there’s another important factor — if not the most important factor — for the well-being of astronauts. It transforms…
