With glorious weather, relaxing summer days and exciting sporting fixtures to watch, many people’s minds will be far from the stock market this month. At the start of January, some people began the year by resolving to start investing. Now we are in July, that can seem like a distant memory!

Still, could now be a good time to start investing?

The danger of market timing

The short answer is yes, for several reasons. First, a start is a start.

Some people have the idea of getting into the stock market for months, years, or even decades without ever putting it into practice. Ultimately, the way to begin investing is actually to start investing!

Secondly, in my opinion, July can be as good a month as any to start investing, particularly for someone who plans to drip feed money into the market on a regular basis over the long term, hoping to smooth out the rough and the good.

People can try to time the market, getting in when it is cheap and selling up when it nears a top. That may include buying shares only in certain months, when based on historical data they have turned out to be cheap.

But what has happened in the past is not necessarily an indicator as to what will happen in future. If it was possible to time the market with certainty, vast amounts of money would be invested on that basis by professionals.

The reality is that, while market timing has obvious appeal as an idea, it is fiendishly difficult to do successfully in practice.

Making the most of a quiet time

Traditionally, the summer is a quieter time in the stock market, with money managers away on holiday and investors drifting off to the distractions mentioned above.

Then, come autumn, things can get lively again as everyone is once more fully engaged and the market starts to hum.

These days, that seasonal split may not be as clear as it once was – but summer still tends to be a fairly quiet time in the market. I see that as an advantage for someone who wants to start investing. It can give them some breathing space and indeed thinking space to ponder about how to invest.

The practicalities of starting in the stock market

For example, learning more about how the market works is important. It is also necessary to set up a practical way to buy shares, such as a share-dealing account, Stocks and Shares ISA or trading app.

Here’s a well-known share I think looks cheap

How can someone try to find shares to buy? Let me illustrate my approach with one I recently bought: Dettol producer Reckitt Benckiser (LSE: RKT).

Consumer goods is an area I understand. Reckitt has a competitive advantage and this can take many forms, but in this case it includes strong brands and an established global distribution network.

I take risk assessment seriously and Reckitt faces a risk from historical product liability litigation. That and other factors have pushed the FTSE 100 share’s price down by 24% over five years.

Now selling for 10 times earnings, the share looks a cheap one to consider to me. I also like its 4.3% dividend yield. That will hopefully give me some handy passive income!

Should you invest £5,000 in Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc right now?

When investing expert Mark Rogers and his team have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Twelfth Magpie Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets.

And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc made the list?

Christopher Ruane owns shares in Reckitt Benckiser.