Escape rooms are a popular activity for birthday parties and other social gatherings. But did you know solving an escape room can help you sharpen skills that you might need in everyday life?
Escape rooms can be exhilarating, frustrating, baffling – and often all of these things at once. But even though they’re just games, they can also be educational. Most rooms, such as escape rooms in Boston, have a variety of difficulty levels for players to choose from.
Playing an escape room can teach you new skills that you can use both on and off the fictional premises. Here are five skills that you can hone by playing an escape room:
1. Confidence
If you’ve ever had to deliver a speech in front of a large group of people, you know that nerves and anxiety can affect your performance. Escape rooms have high energy, suspense, and urgency, which can increase your heart rate and put your nerves on edge.
Playing in an escape room can be a great way to test your nerves and confidence. You’ll likely do well if you go into the escape room with a clear plan and focus on executing your strategy.
2. Problem Solving
During the experience, you’ll work together with other team members to find hidden objects, crack codes, and put your problem-solving skills to the test.
In an escape room, you’ll encounter a slew of puzzles you’ll need to solve to escape. While some of these puzzles will be fun and straightforward, others can be extremely challenging.
Solving these puzzles can help you build problem-solving skills in the real world. In order to solve a problem effectively, you’ll need to do some research, come up with a game plan, and break the challenge down into smaller pieces.
Being able to solve problems can be immeasurably useful. You’ll be better equipped to handle life’s problems if you’ve practiced problem-solving in the past.
3. Communication
Communication is crucial in a team-based escape room. You’ll have to work together with other members of your team to solve the puzzles and escape the room.
Many escape rooms require you to use a specific code or riddle. If you’re not communicating clearly with your team, you may not be able to decipher the code.
If you’ve ever studied a foreign language, you know the best way to truly learn it is by actively using it. Playing in an escape room is a great way to put your communication skills to the test.
4. Focus
Escape rooms are high-energy activities that demand focus and teamwork. If you’re not completely inside the moment, you may miss key clues that are hidden in plain sight.
If you’re not collaborating with your teammates, you may not solve the puzzles in time. These skills can be useful in many real-life situations.
For example, focusing on your work in a noisy office or keeping track of your finances when you have a lot going on can be easier if you have developed this skill.
5. Creative Thinking
Escape rooms are designed to be as immersive and engaging as possible. In order to create this immersive experience, many escape rooms incorporate elements from other disciplines – like art, history, and science.
If you’re familiar with these subjects, you may be able to spot potential clues that are hidden in plain sight. If you’re not familiar with these subjects, you may be able to learn something new while playing in an escape room.
Being able to think creatively can be extremely useful in a variety of real-life situations. Earning a degree in a creative subject like art, design, or history can help you hone your creative thinking skills. But playing escape rooms can also be a great way to build your creative thinking skills.
If you’re looking for a new way to challenge yourself and develop your skills, an escape room might be the perfect fit. Playing escape rooms can develop useful and transferable skills, like critical thinking, communication, self-awareness, and patience.