Prepare an investment plan based on your financial goals, risk tolerance and time horizon.
Set aside funds for short-term exigency in cash.
Invest most of remaining funds (Say 50 %) in core portfolio.
Stay invested through market cycles, since time and the miracle of compounding returns is your friend.
Rebalance the portfolio at regular intervals (Say once in a year) to bring it back to your risk tolerance.
Use remaining funds (Say 20 %) for short term trading and learning.
Follow a investment plan as Procastination is greatest enemy of the investor.