When it comes to your investments, all you can really control is how you react. Sticking to sound, fundamental investing principles and staying the course will help you make it through this difficult time. Here are some practical tips for surviving market volatility in the face of what may seem like an extraordinary crisis right now.

Avoid Hitting the Panic Button
During this time, it’s very tempting (and very normal) to think about getting out of the stock market. Especially on March 16, when the S&P 500 suffered its worst decline since the 1987 stock market crash (also known as Black Monday). But selling solely because the stock market has suffered a big decline over a very short period of time may be the worst thing you can do.

It’s understandable if you’re struggling to keep fear in perspective right now. Over time, however, the stock market has historically risen despite economic woes, terrorism, the burst of the housing bubble in 2008 and countless other calamities. Investors should try to always separate their emotions from the investment decision-making process. What seems like a massive global catastrophe one day may likely become a distant memory a few years down the road. After all, when was the last time you thought about Black Monday (if you are even old enough to remember it)? Or the Great Recession?

Keep a Long Term Perspective
For many people, a retirement account such as an IRA may be their largest investment asset. And that’s probably the one you are most concerned about right now. Keep in mind that if you are investing for a long-term goal such as retirement, which may not begin for two or three decades — and could last two or three decades — you should have plenty of time to ride out this current market downturn. The same may be true with regard to some intermediate-term financial goals you may have, such as saving to buy a home, start a family or fund a college education.