Are You a Save-the-Dayer or a Savorer?
“I arise in the morning torn between a desire to save the world and a desire to savor the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.” — E.B. White
When I first came across this quote, it stopped me in my tracks. It felt like someone had put words to a quiet tension I often carry—a tug-of-war between productivity and presence, between doing something meaningful and simply being here to enjoy it.
If I’m honest, I tend to lean toward saving. I like a plan, a purpose, a goal to move toward. I want to make a difference, help others, get things done. But in chasing those things, I sometimes miss the sweetness in front of me—the slow mornings, the deep breaths, the unstructured moments of joy.
Lately I’ve been wondering: Is there a way to hold both? Can we be both saviors and savorers of the day?
As I reflect on this, I see three distinct ways we tend to move through life:
The Save-the-Dayer - These are the doers. The purpose-driven, list-making, change-makers. You’re fueled by impact and service. You make things happen. But you might also feel perpetually behind, like there’s always more to do.
The Savorer - You know how to be here now. You pause to smell the flowers (and maybe even pick them). You delight in slow mornings and spontaneous beauty. But sometimes, you might wonder if you're doing “enough.”
The Torn-in-Between - You feel both drives. One part of you wants to rise and change the world. The other wants to sip your coffee slowly, with the sun on your face. Some days the pull between the two feels energizing. Other days, it leaves you stuck or scattered.
When I first came across this quote, it stopped me in my tracks. It felt like someone had put words to a quiet tension I often carry—a tug-of-war between productivity and presence, between doing something meaningful and simply being here to enjoy it.
Finding Your Rhythm
There’s no “right” way to be. But simply noticing where you tend to land can open up new possibilities.
Ask yourself:
What drives me when I wake up—urgency or presence?
What do I need more of right now—momentum or meaning?
Where in my day do I already experience savoring or saving? Where might I make space for the other?
If you find yourself leaning heavily toward one mode, here are a few ways to explore the other:
If you’re a Save-the-Dayer
Try planning for presence. Block out time in your day that’s just for being. Savor a meal without multitasking. Let one thing take longer than it “should.” Practice leaving space in your schedule—for wonder, for slowness, for rest.If you’re a Savorer
Notice what causes or contributions light you up. Is there a way you want to make an impact, no matter how small? Can you honor your desire to be present while also taking purposeful action?If you’re Torn-in-Between
Give yourself permission to hold both truths. Some days will lean one way, and some the other. You don’t have to pick a lane. You can design a life that lets you touch both meaning and mindfulness—save and savor—in ways that are uniquely yours.
FIND YOUR RHYTHM
Finding Your Rhythm
There’s no “right” way to be. But simply noticing where you tend to land can open up new possibilities.
There’s so much pressure to be either productive or present. But maybe we’re most alive when we dance between the two—when we let purpose and pleasure live in the same day, the same breath.
Reflection: Are you a save-the-dayer, a savorer, or somewhere in between? What helps you find your rhythm?
Action: Today, choose one small way to lean toward the side you usually resist. If you’re a save-the-dayer, slow down one moment and give it your full attention. If you’re a savorer, take one purposeful step toward something that matters to you. If you’re somewhere in between, name one “save” and one “savor” moment for the day—and honor both.
Tool: Try a simple Daily Save & Savor practice. Each morning, jot down one thing you’d like to “save” (a purposeful contribution) and one thing you’d like to “savor” (an experience to fully enjoy). At the end of the day, reflect on how you met each one. Over time, you’ll begin to see how presence and purpose can live side by side.