Work-Life Balance Tips from the Proverbs 31 Woman

It’s been three weeks since I transitioned from being a stay-at-home mom to working full time outside of the home, and man has it been an adjustment trying to balance it all. I know I’m not alone when I say finding the perfect work-life balance isn’t always the easiest thing to do. Millions of working women – whether married or single, with children or childless – are trying to find that sweet spot between work and home.

Thankfully, God hasn’t left us without guidance in this area. Whenever I’m having a hard time balancing it all, I look at every church girl’s example of the ultimate woman … Mrs. Proverbs 31. This woman is the Bible’s Super Shero. She maintains her home well. She’s a profitable business owner. She takes good care of her husband and has a healthy marriage. Sis is benevolent and active in her community. I mean, she is living a full life and doing it well.

Whether you admire this Biblical baddie or resent her for being so darn perfect, there’s a lot all of us can learn from this woman on how to structure our days to maintain work-life balance. Let’s get into it!

1 | She wakes up early

Before you start throwing stones, just hear me out. One of the first things the Bible tells us about the Proverbs 31 woman is that she wakes up before the sun comes up and gets her day started.

I am a night owl at heart, but I’ve found over the years – especially since becoming a mother – that my most productive days are those days when I wake up before my family does.

It’s during these early mornings that I am able to connect with God without distraction, review my goals, and organize my day. Waking up early to do my morning routine allows me to ease into my day with energy and focus.

For me waking up early means being up at 5 am. For you “early” might mean something different. The time that is right for you will ideally give you enough time to connect with God, set your goals for the day, and kick off your goals from a place of rest and focus.

2 | She delegates

This is a big one, friend!

I think for most women, the thing that stands out the most about the Proverbs 31 woman is just how much this chick gets done! She’s taking care of her home, running a business, showing up for her husband and kids, and she’s doing it all WELL. For YEARS I wore myself out trying to be like her only to find myself falling short. It just felt like there weren’t enough hours in the day to do it all, and that’s because there aren’t enough hours in the day to do it all if you’re doing it all yourself.

In Proverbs 31:15 we see one of the major keys to this Superwoman’s success.

“She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants.” ~ Proverbs 31:15

The reason this woman is able to do so much is that she utilizes the people around her for help. The Proverbs 31 woman has learned the very necessary skill of delegation when it comes to achieving work-life balance.

Look around at your life and ask yourself, “What is something I’m currently doing that is time-consuming and could be done by someone else?”

For each woman this may look different but here are a few ways you can delegate tasks and free up some time for yourself:

Use a laundry service like SudShare.
Utilize grocery delivery services like Instacart or Shipt.
Hire a personal assistant for a few hours a week to respond to emails and run errands for you.
Find a nanny to watch your kids for a few hours each day so you can get work done (huge for work-from-home moms!).
Hire a cleaning service to come deep clean a few times a month.
For bloggers and content creators, use programs like Later and Tailwind to automatically post your content for you.
Ask your spouse or kids to help you out around the house (this one is FREE!).

3 | She pays attention to the needs of her household

She watches over the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

~ Proverbs 31:27

“Watching over the ways of your household” simply means you’re paying attention to what your family needs now and will need in the future. You are familiar with all the moving parts and know what to expect coming down the road. This is a necessary key to being balanced. When you’re in rhythm with your home, you are able to plan effectively for the future. There won’t be as many last-minute surprises that throw you off your rhythm and schedule.

For example, I know I have a work trip coming up at the end of next month. The trip isn’t for another 47 days, but I’m already making arrangements for how my daughter will be picked up from school, when and what I’m going to cook for her and my husband before I leave, and what days I’m going to pre-plan my photoshoots and writing sessions for this blog. I’m not waiting until a week before the trip to start planning. That will only lead to stress and scrambling. I don’t want to be out of balance that week, so I’m looking ahead and planning now. Being in tune with our homes allows us to show up for work (or any other obligations) without throwing everything out of whack.

4 | She honors God

This is the biggest key. Verse 30 gives us the true secret to how the Proverbs 31 woman maintains her work-life balance. She fears – that is, honors and reverences – the Lord.

When we prioritize God and lean on Him for His wisdom and support, He empowers us to handle all of our responsibilities with grace. He is the one who gives us balance and rest.

Prioritize spending time with Him every day. Take time out to pray and study His word. Read a devotional in the Bible app on your lunch break. Every day find a way to make an investment into your relationship with Him. In those times of prayer, He will speak to you. He will tell you if you have something on your plate that you need to unload. The Lord will show you what to delegate and who to delegate it to. He will show you how to prioritize your responsibilities.

Sis, God wants to partner with you in the everyday tasks that we often see as insignificant. Go to Him every day seeking wisdom on how to govern your day. That connection to our Father is what empowers us to have success without all the stress. He’s the one Who ties every tip you’ve read thus far together. True work-life balance is ultimately found in Him!