Decision Making

10-10-10 Rule

Evaluate a decision across three time horizons to see its short and long-term impact.
Useful when
  • Facing a difficult decision
  • Feeling tempted by a short-term reward
  • Unsure how a choice will age over time
  • Stuck between two options
  • Wanting to think beyond the present moment
  • Trying to make more future-focused decisions
About

The 10-10-10 Rule was created by author, journalist and professor Suzy Welch as a simple way to bring perspective to difficult decisions. The idea is to pause and imagine how you'll feel about a choice across three time horizons: 10 minutes, 10 months, and 10 years.

Looking at a decision this way helps you zoom out from the present moment. What feels urgent now may not matter much later. And some decisions that feel uncomfortable today might lead to better outcomes in the long run.

This framework acts like a form of "mental time travel," helping you see beyond immediate emotions and consider the broader consequences of your actions.

Examples
Examples

You might find this framework helpful in situations like these:

  • Feeling torn between a short-term temptation and a long-term goal
  • Making a career, financial, or relationship decision
  • Acting impulsively and wanting to slow down your thinking
  • Wondering how your future self might view a choice
  • Trying to make decisions that align with long-term values
This framework has
6
questions
Useful when
  • Facing a difficult decision
  • Feeling tempted by a short-term reward
  • Unsure how a choice will age over time
  • Stuck between two options
  • Wanting to think beyond the present moment
  • Trying to make more future-focused decisions