HOW TO BE A BETTER ESCAPE ROOM PLAYER - SLOW DOWN
All you want to do when that timer starts counting down is to blow through all the puzzles as quickly as possible and lay claim to the top spot on that leaderboard out in the lobby. Or maybe you’d be happy to just finish the room in less than 60 minutes. Regardless of your time goals, you will find that you can accomplish more if you’ll just… slow down. Wait! What!? Slowing down will help me go faster? Yep.
But, I’m in GO mode! How do I slow down?
Take another look at assumptions you’ve made that didn’t yield any result.
Always slowly read any hints, taking care to process it all. Missing one word can throw off the entire group.
Do the Easter Egg Hunt* again. It’s amazing what you can miss when you’re in a hurry.
Most important, slow your mind, take a deep breath, and relax. Heightened stress levels release cortisol into your system, reducing your ability to think clearly. You don’t have to whip out the ol’ yoga mat in the middle of the escape room, but when you take the time to read and process clues, hints, and instructions, and slowly go back over to check your work, you’ll find you’re saving more time than you’re spending.
So, yeah… slowing down is faster. Now, where did I put my Tibetan singing bowl?
*The Easter Egg Hunt is the first part of the room when players rush in and look for any pieces, props, or puzzles that may be strewn about the room.