Helping students identify what matters most—and how to make time for it

 Introduction

Between school, sports, social life, and screen time, students often feel pulled in a dozen directions. The Matching Your Time with What’s Important Tool helps students pause and reflect: Are they spending time on what truly matters to them? This simple yet powerful poster encourages self-awareness, time management, and intentional decision-making—especially for students navigating academic pressure, social expectations, and personal goals.

How to Use It

Whether you're a teacher, counselor, or parent, this tool can spark meaningful conversations and habits:

In the classroom:

• Use it during advisory, homeroom, or health class.
• Ask students to fill out both columns:
  
  • What’s important to me (e.g., sleep, friendships, grades)
  • How I spent my time today (hour-by-hour breakdown)
• Invite small group discussion: What surprised you? What would you change?

In counseling sessions:

• Explore time use as a window into stress, priorities, or unmet needs.
• Prompt reflection:
  
  • “What’s one thing you wish you had more time for?”
  • “What’s one thing you could do less of?”
• Use the chart to set small, achievable goals for the week.

At home:

• Print the poster and hang it on the fridge or in a study space.
• Encourage students to log their time tonight or tomorrow.
• Use it as a gentle check-in: “Did today reflect what’s important to you?”

Benefits

This tool helps students build essential life skills, including:

• Self-awareness: Recognizing the gap between values and actions.
• Time management: Learning to prioritize and plan ahead.
• Emotional regulation: Reducing guilt or overwhelm by making intentional choices.
• Problem-solving: Identifying patterns and adjusting habits.
• Confidence: Feeling empowered to take control of their day.

Call to Action

Download the Matching Your Time with What’s Important Tool—a printable poster designed to help students reflect, reset, and realign. Whether used in a classroom, counseling office, or kitchen table, this tool offers a practical way to build life skills that last.

Let students see their time clearly—and choose what matters most.