Set Your Watch to 'Island Time'

  Anyone who’s visited the Caribbean is familiar with “island time.” Things tend to move slower here and with their own natural rhythms. Among locals, the Creole phrase ‘Me come soon,’ is a promise, but ‘soon’ can be variable. Shops may open late and close early. Service at restaurants tends to be leisurely. And, an event scheduled for 6 p.m. may begin at 7:30 p.m.   Advice? Stop looking at your watch when dealing with island life and go with the flow. The concept of “Island time” is integral to Caribbean island culture, which places a high value on connecting with family, neighbors, and friends and pausing every now and then to take in the pleasures of the day. Of course, on beautiful and serene Anguilla and St. Vincent that’s so easy to do.   At Saint James, you’ll be able to enjoy this uniquely laid-back island lifestyle and put it to good use. With the friendly people, year-round balmy climate, and slower pace of living – free of the hustle and bustle of city life – you’ll find it’s a lot easier to focus on your studies, with fewer distractions and a lot less stress.   And when you need a break from the demands of medical school to unwind, you’ll have another benefit of life here: nature. It’s everywhere you look.   Numerous psychological studies have linked exposure to nature – even for a small time – with significant psychological and physical benefits. Just the fact of living near green, open space has been found to improve concentration and motivation, relieve stress, and boost mood. Other studies have shown that being in a warm and sunny climate has a positive effect on memory and sense of well-being. On Anguilla and St. Vincent, sun, warm weather and nature are all around, year-round. And that means you can enjoy their benefits whenever you have time during the day – even if it’s just 15 minutes. It’s all just steps from wherever you are.