Conventional wisdom says that what goes up must come down. But even if you view market volatility as a normal occurrence, it can be tough to handle when your money is at stake. Though there is no foolproof way to handle the ups and downs of the stock market, the following common-sense tips can help.

Keeping calm can be hard when the market goes on one of its periodic roller-coaster rides. It's useful to have strategies in place that prepare you both financially and psychologically to handle market volatility. Here are 11 ways to help keep you from making hasty decisions that could have a long-term impact on your ability to achieve your financial goals.