If you’ve ever stood in front of your wardrobe debating between “jeans and a nice top” or “I’ll just cancel” (guilty), then you know decision-making can feel like running a marathon in stilettos — exhausting and unnecessarily dramatic. Some of us (hi, it’s me) can’t even pick a sandwich filling without spiralling into an existential crisis, let alone decide on big life moves like switching careers, moving cities, or ending a relationship.
Enter Suzy Welch’s 10-10-10 rule — a deceptively simple decision-making method with Oprah’s stamp of approval. Yes, that Oprah. The idea is gloriously straightforward: before making a choice, ask yourself how you’ll feel about it in 10 minutes, 10 months, and 10 years. That’s it. Three timeframes. Big perspective.
Picture it: you’re about to skip Pilates (again). In 10 minutes, you’re blissfully bingeing Love Island. In 10 months, you might have fallen off your workout routine. In 10 years? You’ll barely remember the missed class, but maybe you’ll wish you’d built the habit sooner. The beauty of this framework is that it pulls you out of “ugh, I’m tired” mode and forces you to think about Future You — the version that actually reaps the benefits of your choices.
But this isn’t just about workouts. Breakups, career leaps, friendship dramas, whether or not to splurge on those boots — the 10-10-10 method works across the board. It gets you to pause, check in with your values, and stop letting short-term dopamine hits (TikTok doom-scrolls, late-night kebabs, situationships) run the show.
And because TikTok can’t resist putting its own spin on things, there’s also the 10-10-10 manifestation method floating around, where you write down 10 things you want, 10 things you’re grateful for, and 10 things you love. Think of it as the emotional cousin to Welch’s rational method — together, they’re basically brain and heart teaming up like some stylish superhero duo.
The bottom line? Whether you’re deciding if that toxic friendship needs the chop or if you should finally send in your resignation letter, this rule helps you step out of panic mode and into big-picture clarity. Ten minutes, ten months, ten years — ask yourself, will it matter? If the answer’s no, grab the crisps and move on. If it’s yes? Well, future you just sent you a thank-you note.
