August Survival Guide – The Kos Edition ☀️🍉

If you've spent even one August on Kos, you'll know that surviving the month isn't about being the fittest, the most organised or the most productive.

It's about adapting.

After eight summers on this beautiful island, I've realised there are a few unwritten rules that everyone who lives here eventually learns. If you're new to Kos, consider this your unofficial survival guide!

1. Freeze your water bottle overnight.

Trust me on this one.

Fill up your water bottle before bed and pop it in the freezer. By the time you head out in the morning, you'll have ice-cold water that will slowly melt throughout the day.

It might seem like a small thing, but in August, it's the little victories that count!

2. Never park without shade.

You spot the perfect parking space... but it's in full sun.

Keep driving.

Those extra 30 seconds looking for a tree will save you from climbing into what feels like an oven later. Your future self (and your fingertips) will thank you.

3. Don't touch the steering wheel at 2pm.

We've all done it.

We've all regretted it.

Enough said!

4. Siesta isn't laziness – it's survival.

When I first moved to Greece, I couldn't understand why everything seemed to slow down in the afternoon.

Now I completely understand.

When temperatures are nudging 38°C, slowing down isn't being lazy—it's being sensible.

The Greeks have mastered this for generations. Rest during the hottest part of the day, then come alive again in the evening when the air cools and the island takes on a completely different atmosphere.

Maybe they knew what they were doing all along.

5. Watermelon deserves its own food group.

Is it a snack?

Is it lunch?

Is it dessert?

The answer is... yes.

Fresh, cold watermelon somehow tastes even better when it's eaten outside in the shade after a swim.

Extra points if you enjoy it with a little feta the Greek way (my favourite).

6. Your hair has its own plans.

Humidity.

Sea salt.

A gentle breeze that somehow turns into a full-blown wind the moment you've brushed your hair.

By August, most usually accept that their hairstyle is no longer their decision.

And honestly? It's people find it liberating. For me, though, I am one of the lucky ones; my hair looks the same all year round, the only variety I get is when I get out of the sea, and it is in my face ;-)

7. Exercise before the heat hits... or wait for sunset.

August isn't the month for pushing yourself through a workout at midday.

One of my favourite things about summer on Kos is how naturally your routine changes. Early mornings are peaceful, the air is cooler, and the island hasn't quite woken up yet. It's the perfect time for a walk, a swim or some gentle movement.

If mornings aren't your thing, then wait until the sun begins to set.

There's something special about an evening Pilates class. The day's heat starts to fade, your body begins to unwind, and you leave feeling refreshed rather than exhausted.

Sometimes the best thing we can do for our wellbeing is simply work with nature instead of against it.

8. The sea fixes almost everything.

A stressful day?

Go for a swim.

Feeling overwhelmed?

Sit by the water for ten minutes.

Need to clear your head?

Watch the waves.

I'm not saying the sea has all the answers... but it certainly has a way of putting things into perspective.

9. Not everything needs to be done today.

This might be the biggest lesson I've learned from living on Kos.

Back in the UK, I was always rushing. There was always another email to answer, another job to tick off the list, another deadline.

Life on a Greek island has taught me something different.

Some things really can wait until this evening.

Or tomorrow.

The world doesn't stop because you took half an hour to enjoy a coffee in the shade or watched the sunset instead of folding the laundry.

And somehow, life feels richer because of it.

Maybe We Could All Learn from August

One of the things I love most about living on Kos is that the island gently reminds us to slow down.

The heat encourages us to rest.

The evenings invite us outside.

The sea calls us in.

Meals last longer.

Conversations aren't rushed.

People make time for each other.

Perhaps that's why, despite the soaring temperatures, August has become one of my favourite months.

So if you see me carrying a frozen water bottle, searching for the one shaded parking space in town, enjoying a slice of watermelon for lunch, or heading to Pilates as the sun begins to set, you'll know I've finally learned the secret to doing August the Greek way.

Stay cool, drink plenty of water, and don't forget to make time to enjoy this beautiful island.

After all, summer doesn't last forever.