We have had series of lower highs and higher lows which indicates a strong bearish move that might not recover any time soon. The best approach towards investing this period is applying excessive caution to avoid been trapped in the bear. If the project doesn't have the characteristics for a long term goal then it is not worth your currency.
Just wait.
The next months would be good for the market, in my opinion.
Nothing wrong with some dips along the way to a better future and new ATHs broken.
It always was this way.
The crypto market is always this way, but nobody knows how the market will be this year, whether some of the altcoins can reach or give a new ATH this year because it all seems that countries and institutions are more interested in Bitcoin than altcoins. Some of my friends have sold all their altcoin holdings because of the long overdue of the market not showing green candlelight on altcoins, instead, the bearish market persists, not knowing when it will stop
I must say that I agree with what you said that the current market always happens like that and no one will know the market conditions this year, even though, based on experience, the market will improve.
But there are indeed obstacles to altcoins, many of which have not been able to reach their ATHs and are currently experiencing quite high corrections. This may be the influence of bitcoin, which is moving too fast, either up or down.
In my opinion, altcoins have the potential to be able to reach their best prices when bitcoin has reached its peak price. It just takes patience.