An important step in spiritual realization is understanding that we are not permanent in this world. Last century the same time we were not here and next century the same time we are not going to be here. We have been given only a short span of time to do what we are supposed to do. Every individual born in this world is contributing something or the other to this world to keep it beautiful for others. Being not permanent in this world is not something sad or a negative thing to worry about. It is the fact and truth that everyone should understand.
Being helpful
Help can be rendered by any means. There is no restriction or rules in rendering help. All the creations in this world or either dependent on others or they are helpful to others. A best example can be taken from hard working honey bees. They work to death during the summer season to make honey. We humans are benefited from the honey. Being helpful may not be very easy for everyone. It needs a good heart and it has to come by nature. Some people are born naturally with helping tendencies. It can also be understood this way. If we help someone, there will be someone helping us out. But ideal thing is to be helpful without expecting anything in return.
Spending the time effectively
As we are not permanent in this world, the time given to us is very short. We will be doing our regular things for a living in the life we have. That is something natural. But beyond that with the given time, one should think about themselves. They have to try exploring their origin and the purpose of their life. There can be several birth after birth that we will be taking. If we don't think or understand the purpose we will end up just working hard, earning money, paying bills and die. Life is actually something beyond that. We will keep rotating in this birth death cycle again and again if we don't find ways to explore the reason behind it. Thinking about this will let us understand the importance of this life and how we can make it more purposeful. Every individual is born with a perfect soul but only few tries to understand it in this short span of life. Though the time given to us is a very short span of ~100 years in a birth, we have to spend the time effectively by doing right things.