A lot of people who are new to investing tend to have images of riches in their heads, and stocks that take off right away. While these dreams do occasionally come true, investing is rarely glamorous and almost never reaps instant rewards. It’s all about patience.

For this reason, a lot of experts like to remind newer investors that investments that are temporarily struggling may not necessarily be a cause for concern. The natural progression of your investments is going to include a few dips and bumps along the road. The important thing is not to panic and bail prematurely.

To ease your mind when these bumps come along, though, there are a few things you can do:

• Invest in something you know or are passionate about. If you buy stocks in a certain company that you keep up with on a consistent basis, you’ll be more familiar with how their business is performing, and know when these down times are more common.

• Stay fiscally responsible outside your investments. Just as important as having a long-term financial plan is keeping short-term budgets. You may be saving for the future, but that becomes worthless if you’re burning through your checking account at lightning speed.

• Do the math. You may be able to prepare yourself for slower growth periods when you analyze changing inflation rates, taxes, and more. While you can never fully predict the state of your investments, you can at least come up with educated estimates.

As always, the best advice is to consult with a financial adviser when making any important long-term decisions. It’s their job to help you as best as they can.