Gifts We Can Give for Free (2025)
In the spirit of our pre-holiday Friday, here is this year's list of gifts we can give for free, updated for 2025:
A hand-written thank you note, or a note “just because.”
An invitation to take a walk together —either in-person, or from afar via phone if you live in different places.
A 5-star Amazon and/or GoodReads review for a book that you enjoyed (this is so helpful for authors).
A 5-star Google Review for a business you love, or where you recently experienced excellent service, of that you love to visit or work with.
Reflecting back and appreciating excellent service to someone behind the counter, at the drive-up window, or in a restaurant.
Holding someone's cart at the grocery store while they unload it, so it doesn't roll away (someone did this for me at TJ's yesterday and it was so kind, unexpected, and helpful!)
Related: returning the cart to the place it goes in, rather than leaving it rolling around in the middle of the parking lot.
Acknowledging a stranger with a smile or a hello.
Offering to take a photo for someone who is attempting an awkward selfie to capture a special moment with loved ones or friends.
Introducing yourself to a neighbor who you see frequently but who you've never met.
An offer to walk someone's dog after they've had surgery or a baby, or if they are experiencing mobility challenges.
An offer to organize a meal train for someone in a similar situation, or for someone who is navigating grief or loss.
Prioritizing a visit to see a friend or a family member across town.
Feedback to team members that is specific, behavior-based, actionable, and skillfully delivered.
Keeping our commitments.
Quarterly team member reviews that are low-key but happen regularly, versus one mega annual review that is hastily prepared.
Over-communication about upcoming policy changes, even if we think we've already communicated enough (the data consistently finds that our message has likely not landed nearly as clearly as we think it has).
Five minutes of transition time between meetings. Even better, 10-15.
Or, shortening meeting windows to 50 minutes and 25 minutes (from 60 minutes and 30 minutes). And not scheduling a 10-minute meeting in the tiny white space in between (I have been seeing this happening lately. . . )
And better still: being mindful of not co-creating a workplace culture in which we are on meetings nonstop from 7 am until 6:30 pm, where all of the “real work” happens at night and on weekends.
Sending out an agenda for a meeting ahead of time.
Taking a moment at the beginning of the meeting to review why we are here and what we are hoping to accomplish, before diving into bullet points or meandering conversations.
Closing meetings with, “who will do what, by when?” and thanking people for attending.
Sending out meeting notes and action items afterward.
Having the honest conversations during the meeting, rather than during the “meeting after the meeting” in the break room.
Passing along no-longer-used items via your local Buy Nothing Group.
Donating books you've finished to a nearby Little Free Library.
Polishing plant leaves with a soft towel (a weirdly satisfying gift we can give to ourselves…).
Offering team events during, rather than after, business hours.
Checking with our team members and/or attendees about dietary preferences/restrictions before we cater in lunch, or for conferences/events. And then, making sure the lunch we cater in offers options for these dietary preferences/restrictions.
Related: if we are investing in an event for our team, investing enough funds that we can select the room with the window instead of in the basement, and the option with the morning refreshment station instead of requiring that team members bring their own.
Asking friends, family members, and team members, “how are you doing?” and really listening to their responses.
Sharing a favorite recipe with a friend who loves to cook, or a favorite book recommendation with a friend who loves to read.
Turning off the excessively bright side flood light at night that shines into our neighbor's window, or perhaps replacing the bulb with something a bit more subtle.
Helping a neighbor with something that is much easier with two people.
Celebrating a milestone or accomplishment with a friend or loved one, and sharing your genuine enthusiasm for what they're up to.
Related: expanding the types of milestones and accomplishments we celebrate, beyond weddings and engagements.
Offering to come over and look after a friend's baby or children for an hour, so that mom (or the primary parent/guardian) can take a long, hot, and uninterrupted shower.
Holding confidential information with care.
Thanking the instructor after a class, and letting them know what we liked about it.
Prioritizing friendships, relationships, and connections as a part of everyday life.
Saying “hello” and “welcome” if you are leading a meeting, event, or workout class.
Sending a photo of something small but meaningful from your life to a friend or a loved one —and asking friends and loved ones for one in return.
“Doing the same thing from afar” by sharing photos of things you both love to do, but are doing at different times in different places. For example, I currently have a “walking group” with a couple different girlfriends who each randomly send photos of themselves walking in their weighted vests. We all live in different places, but receiving these photos is pure delight.
A morning check-in via text, Marco Polo, or voice memo as a positive way to start the day.
Remembering details about the people we care about and acknowledging them.
Being mindful of events that might feel awkward or unwelcoming for attendees (think: a bunch of people who don't know each other and are milling around, alone, with a drink in their hand) and adding a few thoughtful elements to make them less so (facilitated introductions, conversation cards, or even a few stations that people can visit for something to do).
Learning people's coffee order (or tea order, or lunch order) so it is easy to grab them something if the opportunity arises.
Focusing on what is in the highest good for all involved.
Practicing setting aside our ego.
Reconnecting to our values.
Acting with kindness and care in big and small moments.
Remembering that we are all carrying something in our “metaphorical backpacks” —and we don't always know what that is.
