The 10-10-10 Rule for Decisions: A Simple Way to Stop Overthinking

You're staring at two job offers. Both look good on paper. You've made endless pro-con lists. Consulted everyone you know. Still, you can't decide.

Sound familiar? This is where the 10-10-10 rule for decisions changes everything. Instead of drowning in analysis, you ask yourself three simple questions. The answer usually becomes obvious within minutes.

Here's how it works—and why it might be the decision-making tool you've been missing.

What Is the 10-10-10 Rule?

The 10-10-10 rule for decisions is simple. When facing a choice, ask yourself:

• How will I feel about this decision in 10 minutes?
• How will I feel about this decision in 10 months?
• How will I feel about this decision in 10 years?

That's it. Three questions. Three time horizons. One surprisingly clear answer.

Author Suzy Welch created this framework after struggling with a major life decision. She realized that most of us focus only on immediate consequences. We ignore how choices ripple through time. Therefore, we optimize for short-term comfort instead of long-term satisfaction.

The 10-10-10 rule fixes this. It forces you to zoom out and see the bigger picture. Moreover, it reveals patterns you'd miss when stuck in the moment.

Why the 10-10-10 Rule for Decisions Actually Works

Your brain hates uncertainty. When faced with a tough choice, it spins endlessly between options. Analysis paralysis sets in. You gather more data, hoping clarity will magically appear.

It won't.

However, the 10-10-10 rule for decisions cuts through this noise. It doesn't eliminate uncertainty. Instead, it reframes the question entirely. You're no longer asking "What's the right choice?" Rather, you're asking "Which choice will I regret less over time?"

This shift is powerful. Research on decision-making shows that people rarely regret bold moves. Instead, they regret the chances they didn't take. The risks they avoided. The conversations they postponed.

The 10-10-10 framework exposes these patterns before you make the mistake.

How to Use the 10-10-10 Rule Step-by-Step

Let's walk through a real example. Imagine you're deciding whether to speak up about a problem at work.

Step 1: The 10-Minute Perspective

Ask: "How will I feel about this decision in 10 minutes?"

In 10 minutes, speaking up might feel uncomfortable. Your heart will race. You might second-guess your words. Staying silent feels safer. Therefore, the immediate perspective says: keep quiet.

This is your emotional brain talking. It values comfort over growth. Consequently, it's usually the worst advisor for important decisions.

Step 2: The 10-Month Perspective

Ask: "How will I feel about this decision in 10 months?"

In 10 months, things look different. If you spoke up, the problem might be solved. Your colleagues might respect you more. Alternatively, nothing changed—but at least you tried.

If you stayed silent, the problem probably got worse. Moreover, you're still frustrated. Maybe more resentful. The 10-month view starts shifting the calculus.

Step 3: The 10-Year Perspective

Ask: "How will I feel about this decision in 10 years?"

In 10 years, you probably won't remember the specific meeting. However, you'll remember patterns. Did you speak up when it mattered? Or did you consistently choose comfort over courage?

One conversation won't define your decade. But the habit of speaking up versus staying silent absolutely will. Therefore, the 10-year perspective reveals what this decision really means.

Suddenly, the answer becomes clear. Speak up. The short-term discomfort disappears in the bigger picture.

Real Examples of the 10-10-10 Rule in Action

Career Decisions

The Question: Should I leave my stable job for a startup?

10 Minutes: Terrifying. What if I fail? The safe job feels comfortable.

10 Months: If the startup works, I'm learning faster than ever. If it fails, I have valuable experience and can find another job. Staying put means I'm still wondering "what if?"

10 Years: Nobody remembers the stable jobs. They remember the bold moves—successful or not. Which story do I want to tell?

Result: Usually, the 10-10-10 rule for decisions points toward taking calculated risks. Safety feels good today. Growth feels better looking backward.

Relationship Decisions

The Question: Should I have the difficult conversation with my partner?

10 Minutes: Awkward and scary. Avoiding it feels easier.

10 Months: Unresolved issues have festered. Resentment built up. Or, if you talked, the relationship is stronger than ever.

10 Years: Either you built a foundation of honest communication, or you built a pattern of avoidance. One creates lasting relationships. The other creates lasting regret.

Result: The 10-10-10 rule for decisions almost always favors difficult conversations over comfortable silence.

Financial Decisions

The Question: Should I invest in learning a new skill or save the money?

10 Minutes: The money feels safe in savings. Learning feels like a risk.

10 Months: The skill is paying dividends through new opportunities. Or the money is still sitting there, unchanged.

10 Years: Skills compound. They open doors you can't see today. Meanwhile, that saved money probably barely kept pace with inflation.

Result: Investment in skills usually wins the long game. The 10-10-10 rule for decisions reveals this clearly.

Common Mistakes When Using the 10-10-10 Rule

Mistake 1: Ignoring Your Gut Reaction to Each Time Frame

Don't just think through the questions intellectually. Notice your emotional response. When you imagine the 10-year scenario, does your chest tighten or relax? That reaction contains information.

Your body often knows the right answer before your mind does. Therefore, pay attention to physical sensations as you move through the time frames.

Mistake 2: Letting Fear Disguise Itself as Wisdom

Sometimes the 10-year perspective says "play it safe" because you're actually just scared. Fear can hijack any time frame. Consequently, you need to distinguish between genuine wisdom and rationalized anxiety.

Ask yourself: Am I choosing this because it's truly better long-term? Or because I'm afraid of short-term discomfort?

Mistake 3: Forgetting That Inaction Is Also a Decision

Many people use the 10-10-10 rule for decisions but only analyze active choices. They forget that doing nothing is also a choice—often the worst one.

When considering whether to speak up, start a project, or make a change, remember: the status quo has consequences too. Therefore, evaluate both action and inaction through all three time frames.

When the 10-10-10 Rule for Decisions Works Best

This framework shines in specific situations:

Big life choices: Career changes, relationship decisions, major purchases. When stakes are high and emotions cloud judgment, the 10-10-10 rule provides clarity.

Recurring decisions: Should I exercise today? Should I have that difficult conversation? For choices you face repeatedly, the 10-10-10 rule for decisions builds better habits.

Emotional moments: When you're angry, anxious, or euphoric, the time-perspective lens cuts through temporary feelings. It reveals what matters when emotions settle.

However, the 10-10-10 rule isn't perfect for everything. Quick tactical decisions don't need this level of analysis. What to eat for lunch? Just pick something. Save the framework for choices that actually matter.

Combining the 10-10-10 Rule With Other Decision Tools

The 10-10-10 rule for decisions works even better alongside other frameworks:

Pair it with the regret minimization framework: Jeff Bezos imagines himself at 80 looking back. This extends the 10-year perspective even further. Consequently, you see patterns across your entire life.

Use it after gathering information: Don't use 10-10-10 as a substitute for research. Instead, use it after you've gathered facts. It helps you weigh information through different time lenses.

Combine with the coin flip test: Still stuck after 10-10-10? Flip a coin and notice your reaction. Your emotional response reveals preferences the time framework might have missed.

Your Action Plan This Week

Pick one decision you've been overthinking. Maybe it's small. Maybe it's huge. Doesn't matter.

Pro Tip: Don't want to do this mentally? Use our free interactive 10-10-10 Rule Tool to check your decision through all three time horizons in less than 2 minutes.

Write down the decision at the top of a page. Then write three sections:

1. How will I feel about this in 10 minutes?
2. How will I feel about this in 10 months?
3. How will I feel about this in 10 years?

Be honest. Write your actual feelings, not what you think you should feel. Notice which time frame pulls strongest. That usually points toward your answer.

Additionally, pay attention to patterns. If you consistently choose short-term comfort over long-term growth, the 10-10-10 rule for decisions will expose this. Sometimes seeing the pattern is more valuable than any single decision.

Conclusion: The Real Power of Time Perspective

The 10-10-10 rule for decisions isn't magic. It won't make hard choices easy. However, it will make murky choices clearer.

Most people get stuck because they're asking the wrong question. They ask "What should I do?" when they should ask "What will I wish I had done?" The time perspective reveals the difference.

Start using this framework this week. Pick one decision—any decision—and run it through the three time horizons. Notice what becomes obvious. Notice what stays murky. Both insights are valuable.

The goal isn't perfect decisions. Rather, it's better decisions made with greater clarity and less regret. The 10-10-10 rule for decisions delivers exactly that.

Have you used the 10-10-10 rule for decisions? What insights did you gain from looking at choices through different time perspectives? Share your experience in the comments.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 10-10-10 rule for decisions?

The 10-10-10 rule for decisions asks three questions: How will you feel about this decision in 10 minutes, 10 months, and 10 years? This time-perspective framework helps you make clearer choices by revealing long-term consequences.

Who created the 10-10-10 rule?

Author Suzy Welch created the 10-10-10 rule for decisions after struggling with a major life choice. She developed this framework to help people see beyond immediate emotions and consider long-term consequences.