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The Real Feel Blog

July Trend Summary: July brought a sense of emotional steadiness across the country.

July 2025

  • The Real Feel Team

    • Overall Mood:

    July brought a sense of emotional steadiness across the country, with national mood scores holding relatively consistently across the month. Americans’ mood trends reflected a summer marked by calm routines, brief getaways, and a collective effort to stay balanced, even in the face of fatigue, financial strain, and political unease.

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    The Fourth of July sparked a wave of celebration, with many Americans reporting joy, rest, and gratitude during time off with loved ones. Words like “calm,” “happy,” and “grateful” appeared frequently, especially from those enjoying cool weather, quiet mornings, or family gatherings. As the month progressed, rest and routine helped sustain that emotional balance. Even among those facing stressors like overwork, caregiving, or money concerns, a sense of acceptance and emotional composure was common.

    Towards the end of the month, many people described feeling grounded, motivated, and at peace, crediting everything from good sleep and completed to-do lists to family milestones and spiritual reflection. While some continued to report tiredness or anxiety, July closed on a hopeful note, defined by moments of ease and the quiet power of presence.

    Overall, July revealed a country finding its footing. Even as many juggled exhaustion, finances, and uncertainty, Americans continued to reach for joy, purpose, and connection. Emotional resilience showed up not just in big celebrations, but in the quiet, powerful moments of calm.

    “It’s a nice cool summer day and I’m sitting on my porch feeling really calm.”

    Mood: 7, Calm, Male, 30–44, Black or African American, $75,000–$99,999, Bachelor’s Degree, Single, Democrat, Oklahoma

    “Today is payday. I always get really calm on payday cuz I know I'll be able to feed my family.”

    Mood: 7, Calm, Male, 30–44, White or Caucasian, $100,000–$124,999, Some College (No Degree), Other, Wisconsin

    “The weather is beautiful. It's not as hot as the last few days, and the sun is shining. I accomplished a number of tasks inside the house… I feel good.”

    Mood: 9, Calm, Female, 60+, White or Caucasian, $25,000–$49,999, High School Diploma or GED, Other

    Quotes from Across the Country

    From fireworks to financial stress, these quotes captured the emotional landscape of July. Themes of routine, relief, and reflection stood out, along with consistent mentions of fatigue, weather, and personal growth.

    Financial Pressures

    Money remained a common concern throughout the month. From inflation and bills to job loss and cost-of-living worries, Americans continued to voice the emotional toll of financial instability.

    “My bills are all due and I don't have a job or money.”

    Mood: 4, Anxious, Female, 45–60, White or Caucasian, Associate Degree, Divorced, Republican, $0–$9,999, Alabama

    “Worried about feeding my kids and making sure everything straight.”"

    Mood: 1, Sad, Female, 18–29, Black or African American, Some High School (No Diploma), Republican, $200,000 and up, Ohio

    “Because of being at work every day and being underpaid.”

    Mood: 5, Bored, Female, 18–29, Hispanic, Latino/a, or of Spanish origin, Single, $0–$9,999, Some College (No Degree), Other, Texas

    Family, Faith, and Celebration

    Holidays, milestones, and faith offered moments of joy and gratitude. People shared how family time, personal wins, and spiritual practices helped them stay grounded and hopeful.

    “Last night was my favorite holiday, today is my youngest son’s birthday, and I have been able to spend both days with my family.”

    Mood: 10, Happy, Male, 30–44, Hispanic, Latino/a, or of Spanish Origin, Some College (No Degree), Married, Other, $100,000–$124,999, Indiana

    “It is only because of God that I feel this way.”

    Mood: 10, Calm, Female, 30–44, Black or African American, Bachelor’s Degree, Other, $75,000–$99,999, Texas

    “I feel so grateful every single day.”

    Mood: 10, Excited, Male, 18–29, Hispanic, Latino/a, or of Spanish origin, Married, High School Diploma or GED, Democrat, $10,000–$24,999, Arizona

    Heat, Fatigue, and Emotional Reset

    Even as mood improved, heatwaves and exhaustion continued to wear on many. But across the month, people made a conscious effort to reset, through routines, nature, mindfulness, and rest.

    “Too many emotions, activities, and responsibilities and not enough recovery time this past week.”

    Mood: 7, Tired, Female, 30–44, White or Caucasian, Graduate Degree, Single, Democrat, $175,000–$199,999, New York

    “Heat dome by worsening climate change that isn’t being thoroughly addressed by any U.S. political leaders.”

    Mood: 3, Anxious, Female, 30–44, White or Caucasian, Bachelor’s Degree, Bisexual, Political Party Other, $100,000–$124,999, Florida

    “I’m doing my best to not worry because I know my financial situation is only temporary.”

    Mood: 7, Calm, Female, 18–29, Black or African American, Bachelor’s Degree, Democrat, $50,000–$74,999, Mississippi

    Other Key Takeaways from July:

    1 Mood Disparities Across Income and Education. Emotional well-being diverged sharply along economic and educational lines. Individuals earning over $100K reported higher mood scores, often grounded in rest, gratitude, and meaningful time off. In contrast, those earning under $100K described more exhaustion, financial strain, and emotional burden. Similarly, people with some college but no degree experienced the lowest emotional baseline of any education group, frequently reporting burnout and a sense of stagnation.

    "It's Saturday afternoon and all my errands are finished...soon I am going to read a chapter in the Anne Brontë novel that I am halfway through reading."

    Mood: 9, Calm, Female, 60+, White or Caucasian, HHI $150,000–$174,999, Graduate Degree, Divorced, Democrat, Michigan

    "We are going to have a busy night at work and the job I have requires two people but I will be the only one there."

    Mood: 6, Anxious, Female, 45–60, White or Caucasian, HHI $25,000–$49,999, Some College (No Degree), Married, Republican, North Carolina

    "Daughter is dying from cancer...they have taken her check and medical away [and] want her to get a job. This country is a joke."

    Mood: 2, Anxious, Female, 60+, White or Caucasian, HHI $10,000–$24,999, High School Diploma or GED, Widowed, Democrat, Pennsylvania

    2 Local Events Shaped Emotional Outcomes. Environmental disruption and violence had a clear impact on mood. In New York, severe flash floods and a mass shooting drove a drop in sentiment. Texans also experienced emotional strain following historic flooding, with many expressing anxiety, exhaustion, and financial pressure. These events deepened stress among those already grappling with instability.

    "The political situation of this country leaves me cautious and anxious daily."

    Anxious, Male, 45–60, White or Caucasian, Divorced, HHI $0–9,999, High School Diploma or GED, Democrat, New York

    "My homeowners insurance is going up by another $1,000 this coming year and now I need to shop around and hope I can save money."

    Mood: 6, Anxious, Male, 30–44, White or Caucasian, Single, HHI $50,000–$74,999, Graduate Degree, Democrat, Texas

    "Raining and I'm stuck inside."

    Mood: 7, Bored, Male, 60+, White or Caucasian, Domestic Partnership / Cohabiting, HHI $10,000–$24,999, High School Diploma or GED, Political Party Other, New York

    3 Emotional Gaps Across Gender and Age Men and women reported similarly trending mood scores, but women continued to carry a heavier emotional load, often describing stress from caretaking, work, and emotional labor. Meanwhile, older adults, typically the most emotionally stable group, experienced a notable drop in mood, driven by health issues, isolation, and family stress.

    "I’m a mom of 3 with no free time and I do mean no free time."

    Mood: 8, Tired, Female, 30–44, Black or African American, HHI $25,000–$49,999, High School Diploma or GED, Other, Maryland

    "Physical and emotional pain combined with aging."

    Mood: 3, Anxious, Male, 60+, White or Caucasian, HHI $10,000–$24,999, Some College (No Degree), Divorced, Democrat, Florida

    "I work way too much but I am paying off a lot of debt and working keeps me social with other people."

    Mood: 7, Tired, Male, 30–44, White or Caucasian, HHI $200,000 and up, Graduate Degree, Republican, Louisiana

    4 Notable Emotional Trends by Identity. Emotional patterns varied by race, sexual orientation, and political identity. Black or African American respondents reported higher mood scores, often reflecting emotional resilience and gratitude, even under stress. Asian or Pacific Islander respondents showed a decline in mood, more frequently citing daily pressures. Meanwhile, bisexual and gay or lesbian respondents showed greater emotional volatility, often tied to concerns about identity, belonging, and stability.

    "I'm a transgender parent in the USA...I'm concerned that I will have to flee the country leaving my family."

    Mood: 4, Anxious, Male, 30–44, White or Caucasian, HHI $10,000–$24,999, High School Diploma or GED, Married, Gay or Lesbian, Democrat, Michigan

    "Because I know my future is bright."

    Mood: 8, Excited, Male, 30–44, Black or African American, HHI $75,000–$99,999, Some College (No Degree), Domestic Partnership / Cohabiting, Other, Georgia

    "I feel stressed because I'm at work and it's very busy and there are many things to do."

    Mood: 6, Other, Female, 18–29, Asian or Pacific Islander, HHI $0–$9,999, Associate Degree, Single, Democrat, Hawaii

    Stay tuned for more trend summaries each month and sign up for our weekly newsletter to stay updated week by week.

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