It's much more fun to be on your bike pedaling as opposed to off your bike wrenching. The best way to make sure you pedal more than you wrench is to spend time making sure your bike is in the best condition possible before you head out on a ride.
The backcountry is unpredictable and things happen, but a little maintenance can go a long way. Spend time in the comfort of your house inspecting your bike. Look for anything that's not quite right and do your best to replace things before you have an issue. If you notice you've got a tire that's looking a bit worse for wear, it's much nicer to swap it out before a big trip instead of dealing with the consequences on the trail.
The tire is a great metaphor for most things on your bike. Tires are expensive, and it can be tempting to try and squeeze out a little more mileage before swapping it. The same thing goes for your chain and the cables for the brakes or derailleur. Changing your chain or cables before they break on the trail will save you the hassle of an emergency repair. It's also worth mentioning that changing a chain often will extend the life of your cassette, and that saves you money.