Sunny Skies, Stormy Personalities

If you’ve found yourself, in the last week snapping at your email inbox, feeling weirdly emotional during a weather app check, or declaring war on your local meteorologist, you’re not alone. For many of us, this recent heat wave hasn’t just made us physically uncomfortable, it’s also been quietly messing with our moods.

As Canadians, we’re used to drastic changes in temperature, and will always say in the depths of winter that we can’t wait for the summer heat; but deep down we know when it gets too hot, it starts to mess with us. In a recent article on Psychology Today, Dr. Barton Goldsmith looked at a landmark study out of Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany where researchers analyzed the emotional states of over 1.5 million people. The verdict? Hot weather tends to turn up the dial on irritability, frustration, and even anger. On the flip side, cooler days are more likely to leave us feeling content, optimistic, and generally like better versions of ourselves. That really does explain Canadians!

But while the emotional impact of extreme heat is something we all feel, how we process it, internally and interpersonally, can look pretty different depending on our personality. Each of the four Personality Dimensions® types have their own way to ride the emotional rollercoaster of a heat wave.

For Authentic Blues, emotional currents run deep, and when it’s hot, those currents can feel especially turbulent. They tend to pick up on everyone else’s discomfort, which can lead to an unintentional empathy overload. If someone nearby is short-tempered or struggling, an Authentic Blue may internalize that stress, even if it’s not directed at them.

They can also find themselves torn between wanting to offer comfort and connection, and needing space to emotionally decompress. Add to that a heatwave that drains energy and makes deep conversations harder to come by, and they might feel adrift; disconnected and unsure how to help. Understanding that it’s okay to step back, recharge, and not absorb every emotion in the room can go a long way.

Inquiring Greens like to understand what’s going on, especially when it comes to their own emotional reactions. When heat starts to mess with their patience or ability to think clearly, the first instinct is usually to investigate. What’s the humidity index? How does heat affect the way I think? What’s the best way to keep this place cool, without cranking up the A/C?

But the challenge here is that no amount of research can make the heatwave disappear. Inquiring Greens can grow frustrated when they can’t “solve” the problem or optimize their way out of it. The emotional friction often comes from that sense of wasted time or lost efficiency. A little self-compassion, and permission to let the facts and figures take a backseat while they simply endure, can offer a surprising kind of relief.

For Organized Golds, a well-ordered day is a good day. So when a heatwave throws routines off track; appointments delayed, errands rescheduled, meal prep derailed by “it’s too hot to cook;” it can feel like chaos has taken over. This isn’t just an inconvenience; it can create real emotional stress.

Organized Golds also tend to take on responsibility for the wellbeing of others, which can amplify that stress. Is everyone hydrated? Did the dog get walked early enough? Has the power company sent another heat warning? This vigilance, while caring, can become overwhelming. Giving themselves permission to not fix everything and to focus on the small wins can help ease the pressure.

Resourceful Oranges thrive on energy, movement, and variety, which are all things the heat tends to suck the life out of. When options are limited because it’s just too hot to function, they may feel restless and emotionally boxed in. The usual quick outlet (a pickup game, a last-minute patio hangout, a road trip) might now sound more like a chore.

This can lead to short bursts of frustration or irritability, often followed by an equally quick emotional reset, especially if they find a creative workaround. A Resourceful Orange who decides to invent a new game involving fans and freezer pops isn’t just coping, they’re thriving. The key is to recognize those limits early and redirect the energy rather than fight it.

What can you do when the mercury starts to rise? First, give yourself and others a bit of grace. That emotional edge you’re noticing might not be just about deadlines or to-do lists; it could be the heat talking. Being aware of how different personalities respond to environmental stress helps us manage not just ourselves, but also our relationships.

Authentic Blues might need space to recharge emotionally. Inquiring Greens benefit from reminders that not everything needs analyzing. Organized Golds may need reassurance that it’s okay if things go off-plan. And Resourceful Oranges? Sometimes they just need an impromptu, solo dance party in front of the fan. While we can’t control the weather… yet, (you know at least a couple of Inquiring Greens are working on it) we can control how we respond, to the heat, and to each other.