"Happy Ardie is out there playing good footy," he said this week, as he prepares for the start of one of the biggest years of his career.
Last year was a breakout year in an All Blacks jersey for the 25-year-old as he turned his potential into consistent performances.
With no major injuries to worry about, Savea said he spent his off-season clearing his mind to ensure he came back refreshed.
"The body is sweet. It was more just getting away from the game, spending time with family and connecting with loved ones. That was a big focus for me, just switching off and getting my mind right.
"It was a big year last year and I saw it as an opportunity to switch off for a bit. If I get my mind right, I'll be coming back here excited to play again, so I thought that was crucial for my off-season."
In order to get that clear headspace, he sorted his future early in the off-season, rebuffing lucrative overseas offers to put pen to paper in December on a New Zealand Rugby contract to take him through till the end of the 2021 season.
He then went to Fiji to marry his high school sweetheart, Saskia, in what he said was "one of the best moments of my life".
His brother, former All Black Julian, was his best man, and they went on to spend much of the rest of the off-season together before Julian returned to France to play for Toulon.
It meant he returned to Hurricanes training without his older brother for the first time, which he said was an unusual experience.
"Yeah it is [weird]. Usually he's the loud guy somewhere on the training field, joking around with the boys, so it is different.
"I miss him. It's probably the first time we've not been together during a rugby season.
"I just miss his company. Brothers, we see each other every day, we're so used to it, but him being overseas I don't get to see him and his family, so just that. It's all good though, he was here during the off-season, so it wasn't that bad."
A big part of what Savea does to keep himself happy and mentally fresh during the season is what he describes as "connecting" with people.
Julian obviously played a big part in that in previous years, but now it will be on some of his other Hurricanes family to fill the void.
He won't be short of willing participants - Savea was in the middle of arranging lunch with a few team-mates when Stuff spoke to him this week.
"I love connecting. Connecting with the boys, my close friends, my wife.
"I always want to keep positive, so when I come here, I can spread that positivity to the brothers. That's beautiful.
"I love connecting. Connecting with the boys, my close friends, my wife.
"I always want to keep positive, so when I come here, I can spread that positivity to the brothers. That's beautiful.