7 ways to build the habit of generosity (that don’t involve money)
For ourselves, others and our local and global communities

I don’t know about you, but the state of the world as we head into 2025 has me feeling like it’s a struggle to prioritize values like generosity.
The world doesn’t feel like a very generous place these days. Cost of living pressures continue to rise while political instability has many people feeling uncertain. The climate crisis continues to show how devastating it can be. Our digital platforms that were once spaces for connection feel increasingly littered with AI bots and misinformation. Under these circumstances, it is almost scary how easy it is to turn inward and clench our fists.
I’m feeling this so much that I didn’t even want to write this article. Is it tone deaf to write about generosity in times like this?
Yet perhaps there are simple and accessible ways to cultivate generosity in the world—perhaps even in response to the world, not in spite of it. Perhaps we can develop generous habits and build the muscle of generosity, like we endeavour to do with so many other things in the new year.
And listen, this is a judgement-free zone. Knowing how to protect your peace and give yourself what you need is so important (in fact, see point #1 below). But if, like me, you’re feeling the need for a generosity tune-up, I thought I’d offer some ideas for building generous habits—that don’t involve money. (If you are looking to be generous with your money, that was my last article!)
7 ways to build generous habits in 2025
1. Be generous with yourself
Generosity is most effective when it’s a consistent ethic—and that includes being generous with yourself. Give yourself time to rest. Cook your favourite meal. Don’t be so hard on yourself. It seems basic but being stingy with yourself is no way to cultivate a generous life.
2. Volunteer
This is low-hanging fruit for non-financial ways to be generous, but never count out the obvious answer! According to Statistics Canada, four in five Canadians aged 15 and older volunteered in 2018. Canada has a strong culture of volunteerism that was challenged during the pandemic. If it’s something that’s fallen off your radar, maybe it’s time to re-engage, whether it’s volunteering on a charity’s board of directors or lending a hand at a local community program.
3. Share your story and your wisdom
I’ve benefitted greatly from people who were willing to share their experiences and their wisdom, whether as a mentor, through their writing or speaking, or otherwise. While it might feel awkward at first, I think we would all confidently say we appreciated it when someone else did it for us. We can combat hyper individualism and isolation through the connection that happens when we share our stories.
4. Donate, don’t landfill
Most of us are aware of the threat of climate change that is being driven by extreme capitalism and consumerism. While it’s true that individual actions pale next to the need for major political and societal action, being more mindful about how we engage with consumerism is still one of the most generous things we can do for our communities and our planet. Here’s just one example: it will take more effort, but when you’re done with something, instead of throwing it away and sending it to a landfill, find a place to donate it responsibly.
5. Learn something new
Perhaps one of the most alarming ways we turn inwards and clench our fists these days is retreating into what’s familiar and rejecting new perspectives. I get it—we seek out familiarity and comfort in uncertain times. But this is a powerful opportunity to practice generosity with our time, our energy and our minds by being open to new perspectives and being willing to learn something new. For example, with DEI programs under attack, it will take more intentional effort than ever to ensure marginalized voices and perspectives are heard in our workplaces, schools and other institutions.
6. Shop small and local
Shopping at the big companies is easy and convenient, but choosing to be generous with some extra time and effort to shop at a small and/or local business makes a huge impact for a small business owner and often for the environment, too. If you’re going to spend the money anyways, why not ensure it is invested into a small business and/or in your local community?
7. Be your authentic self
We’ve been talking a lot about artificial intelligence in my courses at school this semester. It has me thinking a lot about authenticity, and how our authentic human selves are becoming even more valuable and important (if that was even possible) as our digital spaces becoming increasingly inauthentic. It’s always a vulnerable thing to be your authentic self, but I think more and more, it’s going to be one of the most important and generous things we can do for ourselves, others and our communities.