This piece is part of my 2016–2026 archive migration. Some original formatting, content, and external links may be missing, changed, or not be optimized.
Even When There Is War & Pandemics, Continue Investing
The power of consistency: Stay focused
Stocks are dropping.
Inflation continues to rise.
Gas and food prices are skyrocketing.
Certain commodities are becoming scarce.
People are still getting sick due to COVID-19,
And yet, the wise continue investing.
Wars and pandemics come and go, as they always have since the beginning of time; it’s nothing new, and this should never come as a surprise.
Don’t allow international and economic distress to distract you from your financial goals, though. To alleviate some of the mental stress, keep your investments on auto-pilot.
You might need to get a little more creative if you’re experiencing loss of income or higher expenses, but these shouldn’t be the reason for you to pause investing.
Take Advantage of Bear Markets
Many people run, hide, and sell when stocks drop. But this actually is the best time to buy more shares at a lower price. When you buy low, your returns have the opportunity to be more substantial and rewarding.
It might not seem prudent to continue investing during challenging economic times. But, if we do what everyone else does, we’ll always be in debt, live paycheck to paycheck, not have enough cash to cover a $500 emergency, and end up without enough in our investments when we reach retirement age.
Don’t Be An Emotional Investor
People who invest with emotion lose big. Don’t worry if the markets go up or down. Instead, remain steady – as a stoic would.
Continue investing, so you always win big and win small. If you consistently invest, you will always outperform emotional investors.
Emotional investors miss out on significant opportunities because of fear and excitement. Avoid both of these emotions when it comes to investing. Use logic and as many facts as you can find about a potential investment.
Facts, logic, and consistency are best friends to the wise investor.
Note: Jobs Are Not Recession-Proof
Even if there is a high chance you aren’t let go from your job, always have more than one income source. As much as we’d like to think we are invaluable or indispensable employees, this doesn’t always pan out the way we predict.
If you’re lucky enough to keep your job during economic or international hardship, this doesn’t mean your income will be enough to support yourself financially and or your family. Maybe your spouse or roommate loses their job, or you have to deal with unpredictable escalating prices.
Still, if none of these situations occur to you, having a secondary income source provides comfort if something negatively affects your primary source of income.
Always have a backup plan to help you stay afloat while you’re in transition economically.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.