In less than 48 hours, I’ll be boarding a plan to Maui, Hawaii with my husband. Judging from the stacks of unpacked luggage, mile-long to-do list, groceries to buy for the kids, notes to write for teachers and the half-completed itinerary we’ve created, one would think the trip was months away.

If this were 10 years ago, I would have already created a thick, three-ring trip binder by now. Every page would be slipped inside a sheet protector (to hold our mementos, restaurant menus, ticket slips, and more of course) and it would detail our plans for the day down to the hour. My colleagues at work would laugh as I put these binders together during my lunch break, but they proved to be some of the most useful and meaningful parts of our newlywed years. I still have all of them tucked into a corner in the basement, along with our CDs, photo albums, and books that we used to read out loud to each other before turning in.

You see, before we had children, my husband and I fancied ourselves avid road-trippers. We took a trek up the New England coastline one October, then down the Pacific Coast highway the next. We made two trips to the Pacific Northwest and drove an unforgettable circle across Utah, Nevada and New Mexico twice. We learned the ins and outs of long-distance car travel, including the fact that rental car companies charge you twice as much when you don’t deliver the car to the same place you pick it up from. We discovered that some of the best green chile cheeseburgers in the West can be found at an indiscreet gas station near Clyde’s Corner. We stayed up far too late in mom and pop motel rooms, ate on a shoestring budget and saw much of our country before we turned 28.

Now, we’re 31 and haven’t made a rental car reservation in years. Our children are four and two and since they’ve been born, the farthest we’ve trekked has been Myrtle Beach, a trip that we crazily agreed to do when our youngest was only six months old. Twenty-four hours, two double ear infections and one sick husband later, I was driving our entire brood back home in the wee hours of the morning, canceling our Airbnb reservation on the phone and praying we could all get home to our own beds as soon as possible.

Turns out, something changes in you when you become a parent. Suddenly, life turns on its axis and your days aren’t your own anymore. You’d think this would be stifling, but I’ve found it to be exhilarating and refreshing in more ways than I could possibly count. I am beyond grateful for my children and if this is a season of life when we just need to stay home more often than not, I am fine with it. Yet, when our 10-year anniversary came up and we began reminiscing on our honeymoon in a French chalet, we couldn’t help but let ourselves dream. We had been young, free-spirited and without obligations when we married. Who said we couldn’t wisk ourselves off to France for a week of romance and good-hearted fun? We had disposable income and no one to spend it on but ourselves.

Things look just a little different now. With two babies to tend to and a new mortgage to balance, we have to be a little more conservative with our finances. Still, we knew if we didn’t take a trip now, another 10 years could very well go by without one.

At first, we settled on Key West. It would be warmer there in the wintertime than almost anywhere else, we had never been and we loved the idea of biking around the coastal town. Yet, for some reason, I couldn’t shake the idea of Hawaii. My sister and her husband honeymooned in Maui and have raved about it in the three years since. We made a last-minute decision to change our destination and we haven’t looked back since.

I’m excited, nervous and thankful for this time we get to spend together. Yet, I can’t help but feel just a tinge of guilt, as well. I’ve never been apart from my children for more than two days and they feel like a natural extension of myself. To be a 16-hour flight away from them for one week is tearing my mama heart in two. I’m finding peace and joy in the fact that they’ll be in the capable, beautiful hands of my parents and my in-laws. This is just one of the many reasons why I’m thankful we moved back home and settled down to be close to family!

So tonight, I’ll pack the rest of our bags. I’ll finish the unending loads of laundry and spend a little longer tucking the kids into bed. I’ll re-check the grocery list, make sure the fish are fed, pour shampoo into travel bottles and wash my hair for the last time, before it’s rinsed clean by island waves. Then, I’ll board that plane with confidence and assurance, ready to relax and reflect on the beautiful turns that life has taken us on thus far.

Five years ago, if someone would have presented us with the premise of being locked into a room with only our wit and creativity as a means to get out, we would have shuddered at the thought. Today, this setup is known as the modern “escape room” and it’s taken the United States by storm.

Why? The escaping part is only a fraction of the fun. Along the way, players have the chance to get to know each other better, build teamwork, and have a ton of fun as they solve complex challenges to unlock passageways and ultimately, get out. This helps explain the popularity of the concept, though it’s actually not as new as one might think.

The idea of an escape room was around back in 2014, yet, according to industry research, there were only around 22 of the designated spaces. Now, there are more than 2,000 across the country. What was the impetus for the growth? The answer lies in increasingly sophisticated technology that makes the games more feature-rich and interactive than ever before.

It also correlates with the fact that we’re now in the era where social media and digitization are king, and a penchant for all things puzzling, challenging and intricate is no longer seen as uncool. Rather, geeking out over your new software or your favorite brand’s new mobile app is a common occurrence. This enthusiasm has spilled over to the choices we make for our recreation. Escape rooms fit the bill because they offer us a chance to explore our surroundings, test out hypotheses, tinker with tools and engage the part of our brain responsible for in-depth problem-solving. And, we get to do it all in the presence of company we enjoy, with good-hearted spooks or laughs along the way.

A Social Experience Like None Other

Of course, those who emerge from an escape room have the opportunity for a perfect photo opp, which is also available for those who needed a little assistance to make it out. This moment of shared celebration and relief has given rise to a host of social media hashtags and posts, with trending ones including #weescaped and #escaperoom. In fact, Instagram reports that in the past year alone, the use of those specific tags has risen 13% over the year before.

While escape rooms are ideal ways to have fun with your friends on your day off, they can also serve as ideal team building events for corporate communities. From seasoned colleagues and co-workers coming together to build relationships and trust to new intern initiations, there is no shortage of ways to implement an escape room outing for the office. This concept works because the very skills needed for employees to work seamlessly and successfully at work, including clear communication, role delegation, collaboration and teamwork are also required to maneuver out of an escape room.

Moreover, the rooms can also serve as the backdrop for just about any celebration. Today, it isn’t uncommon to hear of someone having their birthday party at one. They’re unique alternatives to traditional party fare, offer guests a chance to interact with one another, and are a rewarding group activity. With online booking capabilities, it’s easy to plan today for your next fete.

Tech-Savvy Elements That Deliver

While some of the earliest, most rudimentary escape rooms consisted of a series of spaces isolated by physical locks and keys, the contraptions and characters used are quickly evolving. Now, many room companies will employ actual people to make story settings come to life. They’re also relying less on concrete materials and more on tech-heavy interactive elements that give each room it’s own “theme.”

For instance, you may have a nautical-themed room wherein the environment is designed to mimic that of being on a boat. Players might even feel the room vibrate, move or sway back and forth to replicate the feeling of being on the ocean. Adding digital touches and special effects such as these is a key way to improve the customer experience and helps differentiate and elevate some escape rooms over others. From sound effects to special lighting design, the possibilities for creating an immersive and sophisticated escape room are virtually limitless.

The Human Element of Accomplishment

While we can wax poetic about the technological features that a certain escape room has to offer, the massive success of the industry as a whole comes down to one factor: They offer us an unmatched sense of accomplishment. As humans, we’re driven by risk and reward and these rooms have both of these concepts at their crux. While we work together to solve the problems, crack the cases, and elude the obstacles, we’re facing risks in a more head-on manner than most of us are used to doing in our real lives. In this sense, escape rooms can even be cathartic, allowing us to more clearly focus our energy and align our efforts.

Then, whether we emerge by our own accord or even if we fail to complete the challenges within the given timeframe, there is still a shared sense of relief. We did it together, or at least we attempted it. The photo opp alone is often photographic evidence of the collective sigh of relief felt at the conclusion of this journey, though it’s one that most of us can’t wait to tackle again.

The Future of Escape Rooms

There’s no denying that our world is inching closer and closer to a more digital future, though even against this backdrop, escape rooms still have a place. How? They offer us the best of both worlds. We have access to cutting-edge technology and dynamic special effects, but at the end of the day, this is a human game. It’s one that requires us to speak to, listen to, work with and learn from others. And, that’s something we’ll always crave, regardless of how automated the world around us becomes.

Industry statistics show that, during the holiday season, normal crime rates soar to around 20% higher than the normal average. It’s not difficult to discern why. Between packages left on doorstops and Christmas tree presents glimmering inside open blinds, there are no shortage of opportunities for thieves to sneak a peek at what’s on your wish list.

The good news? Today’s home security market is riper than ever before with innovative, cost-affordable solutions that can keep both your home and your property safeguarded. From smart locks to smart lights, you can invest in these automated solutions to control your home, even when you’re halfway around the world. Yet, once those are installed, there are even more measures you can take this holiday season to deter theft. Today, let’s take a look at five steps that can get you on the road to a more secure, protected home.

Steps to Take While You’re Home

The preventative measures you’ll take while you’re away are different from those you can handle while you’re on the premises of your property. Let’s take a look at the latter, first.

1. Make Boxes Less Visible

Start by getting in your packages off your front stoop or porch as soon as they’re delivered. Even leaving them for a few hours can lure passersby to take a second look. Then, take a look around your home once you’re back inside. Is your Christmas tree located near a window? If so, ensure that the blinds are closed or the curtains are pulled tightly, especially as dusk and nighttime appear, your interior lights go on and everything is illuminated from the inside out. You may also consider moving your tree to a location that is less visible to those driving or walking by on the outside.

2. Discard of Boxes Discreetly

Once you open your packages and remove what’s inside, resist the urge to just pile the boxes by the curb for the garbage collector. Doing so can tip off would-be thieves that you have plenty of valuables inside of your home. Instead, break the boxes down and place the material inside your garbage or recycling bin.

3. Lock Up, and Not Just Your Windows

We might believe that a thief will always enter from the front door, but we know that’s not always the case. From back porch doors to second-story windows, if you have an entryway into your home, it’s essential that you properly lock it. Especially if you’re the type to get halfway to your destination and wonder if you remembered to bolt the exterior basement door, it’s wise to invest in a smart home security solution that includes smart locks you can control from anywhere. Do your research and learn more about these types of products to determine how they fit into your home’s security plan.

While You’re Away

Are you planning to spend the holidays on vacation or with your family that lives apart from you? If so, know that your loved ones aren’t the only ones who will be happy when you lock up and head out.

4. Get Boxes Out of Sight

To make your home less susceptible to a break-in while you’re gone, you can ask the postal service to hold your mail so you can pick it up later. Some UPS specialty members may have this option, as well. If you don’t want to go this route, at least request that a neighbor or local friend pick up your packages every day to keep them from sitting outside for too long.

5. Monitor and Control Remotely

If your security system has an integrated mobile app option, you can usually keep an eye on your property even when you aren’t there. Check to see if your exterior and/or interior security cameras can be synced to the app so you can check in and take action if required.

In addition, put your smart lights on a timer to turn on and off on a regular basis. This activity makes it look like someone is living in your home. Even if you don’t have a smart solution, you can hook a programmable timer onto existing lights as an alternative.

Bonus Section: Traveling Smartly and Safely

If you’re weaving in and out of airport crowds, you could be a target for a pickpocket, especially if you’re dragging around expensive, high-end luggage that reveals your love of luxury. That’s why some experts recommend investing in simple luggage that isn’t too eye-catching.

Also, be sure to keep a close eye on your personal belonging as they’re loaded onto the conveyor belt during inspection, while you’re using the restroom and when you’re sitting at your terminal gate. Keep your bags close to your body and wait to pull out your credit card or cash until it’s necessary. Once you arrive at your destination and park your vehicle, you can lock your personal belongings in the trunk or cover them with a blanket if they must be kept out for accessibility.

Enjoying a Relaxing, Stress-Free Holiday Season

As we prepare to close out this year and ring in the next, there are myriad wintertime precautions you can take to keep your home and family as safe as possible. Communication is key throughout to ensure a successful implementation.

Make sure everyone in your family knows how to operate your smart home from the centralized portal. If you have young children who could easily swipe the screen or press a wrong button, consider adding passwords or other authorization measures to ensure the controls don’t end up in the wrong hands. Once you’ve taken these small but important steps, you’ll be that much closer to achieving the peace of mind and silent nights you’re looking for this time of year.