During difficult times in the financial markets, it can be hard to stay committed to investing. After all, if many of your investments have lost value, you might be tempted to just put your money under your mattress. But that's not really a productive use of your funds, and it almost certainly won't help you achieve your objectives. So instead of choosing the mattress route, try changing the way you look at your financial situation -- by focusing more on your long-term goals and less on the day-to-day performance of your individual investments.

In other words, you're not only investing in "Investment A" -- you're investing for a comfortable retirement. And you're not just putting money away in "Investment B" -- you're saving for your child's college education.

Once you realize that you are actually investing in these long-term goals, you may find it easier to cope with the ups and downs of investments A, B, C and all the others you own. Of course, this doesn't mean you never have to adjust your portfolio, but if you are investing in your goals, and not just individual vehicles, you'll find it easier to maintain the focus you need to employ suitable investment techniques.

What are some of these techniques? Consider the following:

By following these suggestions, and by always remembering that the goals for which you are investing are more important than short-term investment returns, you can stay on track toward the future you've envisioned.