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The 10-10-10 principle helps students make important decisions by looking at their impact in 10 minutes, 10 months, and 10 years. This method helps to make more rational decisions by relativizing short-term emotions and focusing on long-term goals. Perfect for planning your studies and life better.
In the midst of the dense fabric of student life, between the tests of intellect and the fleeting urgency of the present, people are often baffled by the question: How do I make the right decision? And before you get lost in such pseudo-philosophical entanglements and completely turn off, I have a time management method for you that makes your decisions easier. The 10-10-10 principle.
The 10-10-10 principle was developed by American author and entrepreneur Suzy Welch. It is a simple yet powerful way to make decisions. The core of this method is to consciously reflect on the long-term effects of a decision. In doing so, ask yourself three simple questions:
• 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?
These questions force you not only to look at the here and now, but also to consider the medium-term and long-term consequences of your actions.
As a student, you are constantly confronted with decisions: Should I postpone this exam or complete it now? Should I go out tonight or should I use the evening to study? Sometimes the smallest decisions seem overwhelming because they set in motion a chain of events that are difficult to predict.
The 10-10-10 principle helps here by broadening your perspective. It diverts your focus away from immediate, often emotional response and helps you to rationally and consciously consider how your choice could impact your future.
The principle can be applied to almost any decision. Here are a few examples of how you can use it in everyday university life:
1. Time management: Should I study or relax?
You're about to take an exam and are thinking about whether you should study today or deserve a break. Ask yourself: How will I feel in 10 minutes if I force myself to study now? Maybe stressed or tired. But how will I feel in 10 months if I pass the exam? Probably relieved. In 10 years? This decision may barely matter anymore, but the success you've achieved through consistency could have paved the way for greater opportunities.
2. Social decisions: Should I go out tonight?
The nightlife is calling, but you have an important lecture tomorrow. In 10 minutes, you might be happy to get started. In 10 months, you may be annoyed because you've lost the thread in your studies. In 10 years? That night will probably have faded away, but your college successes could still open doors for you. Of course, you could have found the partner for your life that night, but would that really have been a rationally based decision, or rather one driven by hope and emotion?
3. Career decisions: Should I accept an internship or focus on studying?
You might have the chance for an exciting internship, but it would put a lot of strain on you during the semester. In 10 minutes, you might feel stressed out about the extra work. In 10 months, however, it could have given you professional experience that would usefully complement your studies. In 10 years, this very experience could have been your career springboard.
The 10-10-10 principle isn't a magic panacea, but it forces you to make decisions more consciously. It helps you to relativize emotions and make rational considerations. Life as a student is often characterized by short-term pressure, and this is exactly where this method helps by giving you clarity about the longer-term consequences of your actions.
The 10-10-10 principle gives you the necessary foresight to make good decisions — both in small and big questions of everyday life. In stressful university life, where there is often a lack of orientation, it provides you with a clear compass. Use it to make decisions that last not only in the moment but also in your future.
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