Warren Buffett, one of the greatest investors of all time, is famous for his discipline and buy-and-hold strategy. While many traders chase quick profits, Buffett’s greatest skill is often doing nothing—simply holding onto great businesses for decades. In investing, patience is a superpower, but most investors struggle with it.
Why? Because human nature pushes us to react. We feel the urge to trade when the market moves, news headlines trigger emotional decisions, and the fear of missing out (FOMO) tempts us into impulsive investments. Yet, as Buffett has repeatedly demonstrated, the best returns come to those who can sit on their hands and wait.
In this article, we’ll explore:
- Why most investors struggle with patience.
- Buffett’s approach to holding stocks long-term.
- When you should—and shouldn’t—take action.
- Practical steps to develop the discipline of sitting on your hands.
Let’s dive in.
Why Un-Disciplined Investors Struggle to Sit on Their Hands
Patience in investing sounds simple, but it’s incredibly difficult in practice. Here’s why:
1. The Psychological Urge to Act
Human nature is wired for action. We feel uncomfortable sitting still, especially when money is involved. Behavioral finance experts have identified several biases that make patience difficult:
- Loss Aversion: Investors feel the pain of losses twice as much as the joy of gains, leading to panic selling.
- Recency Bias: We overemphasize recent events, making us think short-term market drops signal permanent declines.
- Herd Mentality: If everyone else is buying or selling, we feel pressure to do the same.
2. The 24/7 News Cycle Creates Noise
Financial media thrives on fear and hype. Every day, headlines scream about recessions, stock crashes, or the next big thing. This constant noise makes investors feel like they need to take action, even when the best move is to stay put.
Buffett’s Advice: “The stock market is designed to transfer money from the Active to the Patient.”
3. Short-Term Market Movements Distract Investors
Many investors mistake short-term volatility for long-term risk. However, stocks naturally fluctuate—even great businesses can drop 20-30% in a given year. Selling because of short-term dips often leads to regret later.
For a deeper dive into mastering patience, check out The Importance of Patience in Investing.
Buffett’s Discipline Approach: The Power of Holding Long-Term
Buffett’s success isn’t about perfectly timing the market. It’s about buying wonderful businesses and letting time do the work.
1. Buffett’s Famous Holding Period: “Forever”
Buffett’s strategy is simple: buy companies with strong fundamentals and hold them for the long run.
Here are some of his longest-held investments:
✅ Coca-Cola (KO): Bought in 1988, still holding over 30 years later.
✅ American Express (AXP): Acquired in the 1960s after a financial scandal. Buffett held on, and today it’s a top performer.
✅ Apple (AAPL): Despite initially avoiding tech stocks, Buffett saw Apple’s long-term value and made it one of his biggest holdings.
2. Ignoring Short-Term Noise
In the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s, many called Buffett outdated for avoiding tech stocks. Yet, when the bubble burst, his patience paid off. While others chased trends, he stayed committed to businesses with lasting value.
3. Focus on Business Performance, Not Stock Prices
Buffett doesn’t worry about daily price movements. Instead, he looks at whether a company is growing its earnings, strengthening its brand, and maintaining a competitive advantage.
Lesson: If the business is still strong, short-term price drops shouldn’t scare you.
For more on how to stay calm during market swings, read Staying Calm During Market Volatility: Mastering Your Mindset for Long-Term Success.
When Should You Take Action? (The Exceptions to Sitting on Your Hands)
While patience is key, there are times when taking action makes sense. Buffett himself has sold stocks when the fundamentals changed.
1. When the Business Weakens
If a company’s competitive edge erodes, it may be time to reconsider your investment.
Example: Buffett exited airline stocks in 2020 because he believed the industry had fundamentally changed due to the pandemic.
2. When a Stock Becomes Overvalued
Buffett doesn’t sell just because a stock goes up, but if valuations become extreme, he may trim positions.
Example: In the late 1990s, Buffett avoided internet stocks because their valuations were unsustainable. When the bubble burst, his discipline was validated.
3. When You Find a Clearly Superior Investment
Sometimes, reallocating capital makes sense. However, Buffett rarely jumps from one stock to another. Instead, he patiently waits for exceptional opportunities.
For more on handling underperforming stocks, check out What to Do When a Stock in Your Portfolio Underperforms.
Discipline: The Cost of Impatience – What Happens When Investors Fail to Hold
Impatience is one of the biggest wealth destroyers. Here’s proof:
1. Most Investors Underperform the Market
Studies show that the average investor earns significantly lower returns than the S&P 500 due to overtrading.
Fidelity once studied its best-performing accounts. The top investors? People who forgot they had accounts!
2. The Apple Example – Selling Too Soon
Apple (AAPL) has grown exponentially, but many early investors sold after short-term drops. Those who held saw 10x, 20x, even 50x returns.
How to Develop the Discipline to Sit on Your Hands
Here’s how you can train yourself to follow Buffett’s lead:
✅ Step 1: Only buy stocks you’d be comfortable holding for 10+ years.
✅ Step 2: Write down why you’re investing before you buy. This prevents emotional decisions later.
✅ Step 3: Check company performance, not daily price movements.
✅ Step 4: Reduce portfolio check-ins—once per quarter is enough.
✅ Step 5: Surround yourself with patient investors. Learn from long-term thinkers.
Want help finding mentors? Read Positive Influences: Finding Mentors to Guide Your Investment Journey.
Final Thoughts on Discipline: Why Sitting on Your Hands is the Best Strategy
Buffett’s success is built on patience, discipline, and trust in the power of compounding. While many investors trade based on emotions, Buffett lets time work in his favor.
Final Takeaways:
- Patience is one of the hardest—but most rewarding—skills in investing.
- Buffett’s long-term approach has made him one of the richest people in history.
- The biggest investing mistake? Selling great companies too soon.
So, the next time you feel the urge to act, ask yourself: “What would Buffett do?”
The answer? Probably nothing.
Happy Investing!